Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The American Republics, Volume IV

724.3415/3274

The Chargé in Brazil (Thurston) to the Secretary of State

No. 4182

Rio de Janeiro, July 29, 1933.
[Received August 14.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch number 4171, dated July 26, 1933, and to report that at the weekly diplomatic reception last evening I inquired of Dr. Mello Franco, the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs, concerning the negotiations now in progress to bring about the appointment by the League of Nations of the A–B–C–P States to study a formula designed to restore peace between Bolivia and Paraguay.

Dr. Mello Franco reiterated his profound disappointment at the action of the Neutral Commission in relinquishing the Chaco mediation. He said that it had been his hope that the message conveyed to the Department in the Embassy’s telegram number 58, dated May 31, 2 P.M., would indicate the feasibility of an American solution, and encourage the Neutral Commission to continue with its task. He remarked that he could not yet understand the action of Washington in abandoning the problem to the League, and he characterized that action as a blow to the Monroe Doctrine.²⁴ In elaboration of this point, Dr. Mello Franco stated that the League of Nations is not prepared to deal with such problems as that between Bolivia and Paraguay, and pointed out that the contemplated dispatch of a commission to the Chaco for the purpose of ascertaining the origins of the conflict was a futile move which would entail great waste of time and continued bloodshed. Such a commission, he continued, would take no positive action, but would merely submit a lengthy report (as did the Lytton Committee²⁵), which presumably would designate one of the belligerent States as the aggressor and cause the League of Nations eventually to apply sanctions. He stated that he could not believe that the United States would view with equanimity such action by the League of Nations with respect to an American State.

Entertaining these views, he said, he had sought a means to restore to America the paramount place in the peace negotiations to which he feels it is entitled. This he found in the recommendations of the League itself, which provided that a Commission should be appointed. He thereupon took up the matter with the Governments of Argentina, Chile, and Peru, and with the two belligerents, with the result that the latter agreed to request the League to nominate the A–B–C–P States for appointment as the Commission. The definitive reply of the League is being awaited.

Respectfully yours,

Walter C. Thurston

24. See Foreign Relations, 1929, vol. i, pp. 698 ff.
25. For text of the Lytton Report, see League of Nations, Appeal by the Chinese Government Report of the Commission of Inquiry (Geneva, October 1, 1932).