721.23/1195
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
I telephoned our Embassy in Rio today at 12:2593 and as Ambassador Morgan was out of the city spoke with Mr. Thurston. I told Mr. [Page 454] Thurston that last Friday we had received from Lima the text of the answer made by Peru to the Brazilian proposal and asked him if they had received a copy of the text from the Brazilian Government. He said that they had not and I told him to try to get a copy right away. I quoted for his information paragraph 6 of telegram No. 54 of February 2, 3 p.m., from Lima,94 reading as follows:
“For the greater workableness of this proposal and as the best guaranty of all the rights in question it would contribute greatly to fix a definite period, which may be sixty days, for the term of the negotiations which are to be initiated immediately either in Rio or in Lima.”
I said that on that basis we had made informal inquiry in Bogotá as to whether the Colombian Government would accept this proposal—that is, that a definite period of sixty days be fixed for the negotiations between Colombia and Peru; that in case of failure to reach an accord arbitration might be resorted to, and that Brazil should occupy Leticia during this period. We had inquired whether Colombia would consent to this proposal if it were definitely provided that Brazil would return Leticia to Colombia at the expiration of the sixty day period. I said that we felt that if Colombia would accept this proposal as a way out of the present impasse she should make it known perhaps to Brazil so that Brazil could try to get Peru to modify her acceptance of the proposal along those lines. We now have reason to believe that Colombia will accept this but will not suggest it to Brazil as the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, according to word we have received from Bogotá, has declared Brazil’s efforts at mediation ended. I said that we had not received any word to this effect and asked Mr. Thurston to inquire right away of the Brazilian Foreign Minister whether Brazil’s efforts at mediation have ended and, if not, to ask whether Brazil had thought of suggesting the above as a way out. I said that Brazil first made the proposal; Colombia accepted it; Peru made conditions to her acceptance, and there it stands and no progress has been made. Now, if Brazil can get Peru to modify her conditions in that way, we have reason to believe that Colombia will accept and that would offer a way out. The proposal then will be—Peru will turn over Leticia at once to Brazil in accordance with Article one of the Brazilian proposal; Brazil will take over Leticia; a conference will start at once in Rio, and no matter what the result of the conference may be Brazil will deliver Leticia to Colombia at the expiration of sixty days. I said that if Brazil wants to make a proposal along those lines to the Peruvian Government and feels that support by us in Lima would be helpful to her we are ready to back up her efforts in Lima. I emphasized to Mr. Thurston that [Page 455] the matter was very urgent and should be taken up with the Foreign Office right away as we had received confidential word from Bogotá that public patience with the Colombian Government might be exhausted at any moment and might force them to send their troops right on to Leticia.
I then referred to our telegram No. 18 of January 30, 5 p.m., and said that when the time came to take action along that line he might also suggest to the Brazilian Government that they consider the following: that as a guarantee against aggression against Peru Colombia might invite Brazil to send the Brazilian flotilla to accompany the Colombian flotilla to the Colombian port of Leticia and, if Brazil accepts the invitation as within the broad scope of its plan, it would remove the main Peruvian contention that the Colombian flotilla has hostile intentions, and might possibly prevent an impending clash.
I told Mr. Thurston that it was the other matter, however, that was urgent for the moment and asked him to take it up at once with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to send me a brief wire this afternoon regarding it. Mr. Thurston doubted whether he would be able to send me a reply this afternoon as the Minister of Foreign Affairs was in conference and might not be able to see him. I again stressed the urgency of the matter; said that the Colombians may proceed at any time to Leticia; that the Colombian Government has been showing a great deal of restraint and moderation but public patience is at an end and the Colombian troops may be forced to move at any time, and told him to call the Foreign Minister out of the meeting if necessary.