724.3415/3293: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 25—6 a.m.]
184. Consulate’s 178, August 4, 10 a.m., paragraph 5.
1. The League has as yet received no reply from these powers. The Secretary General has, however, received a note from the Bolivian delegation here transmitting the text of a telegram from La Paz to the Bolivian Legation at Rio de Janeiro. In summary the telegram states that throughout all stages of the negotiations on this dispute Bolivia has declined to accept the idea of a preliminary armistice for the reasons stated on previous occasions. These reasons were recognized by the League Council which admitted the simultaneous negotiations of an armistice and of an arbitral agreement in its report of July 3rd which serves as the declaration of the mandate to the four powers. In accepting the transfer of the negotiations to the American powers, Bolivia had made known her disinclination to reconsider the rejected clauses of the Mendoza Agreement whereupon Rio de Janeiro, Santiago and Lima had given her assurances on that head. The acceptance of a preliminary armistice would therefore be contrary to the [Page 353] antecedents which constitute the basis of the parties’ request to confide the matter to the ABCP. Bolivia would be pleased to receive suggestions for the establishment of an arbitral agreement or “a direct agreement” which would lead to a cessation of hostilities and a definitive solution. This Bolivian note, which has been made available to me in strict confidence, is being communicated to the members of the Council but is not being published.
2. Failing any reply to its communication to the four powers the League’s knowledge of the action on its invitation is only by inference from indirect sources of information. Its understanding of these developments is substantially as follows:
Brazil drafted a reply accepting the League mandate and embodying only a few theoretical safeguards. This draft was not acceptable to Argentine and Chile who took the position that a cessation of hostilities should precede all other negotiations. Brazil and Peru finally acceded to this stipulation and a proposal in that sense was made to Bolivia and Paraguay. Paraguay accepted and Bolivia responded in the manner outlined in its communication to the League cited above.
The League is now expecting a reply from the four Governments stating that they are unable to secure conditions necessary for the execution of the Council mandate. If the reply is a clear-cut refusal in these terms, that is, if it does not contain suggestions to the Council to modify its mandate, it is believed that the Committee of Three will proceed at once with the despatch of the League Commission.