724.3415/3173
Memorandum by the Chairman of the Commission of Neutrals (White)
The Bolivian Minister called and discussed the Chaco matter and wanted the Neutral Commission to meet and take some action. I asked him what action he could suggest and he said that he had nothing to suggest. We went over the history of the matter, including Bolivia’s attitude in 1929 and 1930 and also last summer, and especially the rather caustic remarks which were made by the Bolivian Government in its notes regarding the action of the Neutrals. I said that the matter was now in the hands of the League and that Argentina and Chile did not want to cooperate with the Neutral Commission and that I understood Brazil did not want to support action by the League. I said that I really could see nothing for us to do in the matter. The Minister then said that he would like me to call a meeting of the Neutrals at which he could be present and could present his point of view that the Neutrals ought to do something.
After some discussion it appeared that his Government would accept a solution along the lines suggested in the Neutral proposal of December 15 as regards arbitration and delimiting the territory. I said that that proposal had not been accepted by Paraguay nor had it been categorically accepted by Bolivia. He indicated that Bolivia would be willing to withdraw completely and demobilize once it knew that the matter would be definitely settled. I asked him whether this meant that Bolivia would withdraw to Villa Montes once an agreement had been signed with Paraguay to settle the matter in accordance with the suggestion of the Neutrals of December 15. He said it was his understanding that they would.
I told the Minister that if he would get me a written categoric statement from his Government to that effect I would submit it to the Neutral Commission to see whether we should take it up with Paraguay and try to get their concurrence to proceed on that basis and, if they would not, to inform the League what Bolivia had been prepared to do so that that could be taken into account in negotiations there. The Minister said that he would try to get a definite statement from his Government that there should be an immediate armistice on present positions for a period of thirty days while negotiations are under way to sign an agreement between Bolivia and Paraguay for a definite settlement of the matter in the manner suggested by the Neutrals on December 15, with the further agreement that once that [Page 340] instrument is signed Paraguay will withdraw to the River and Bolivia to Villa Montes. I told the Minister that I would withhold calling any meeting of the Neutrals until I received his further definite statement.