721.23/1265
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
I telephoned Ambassador Morgan in Rio at 12:15 today and told him that we had received his telegram sent at noon today giving the memorandum of Brazil’s position on February 9 as handed to him this morning. I pointed out that no mention is made in the memorandum of the action Brazil contemplates taking toward having this [Page 468] formula accepted nor does it state that at the end of sixty days the territory will be turned back to Colombia. This, I said, is very important, as Colombia will never accept it unless there are definite assurances and agreement that, if after sixty days of negotiations no agreement is reached between Colombia and Peru, then Brazil will automatically turn over the territory to Colombia.
Ambassador Morgan said that as a way out Peru might ask Brazil to take possession of the territory—no mention being made by Peru that she was turning over anything more than possession; that Colombia, as sovereign of the territory, might ask Brazil to take possession of the territory from Peru and hold it for sixty days while negotiations were going on in Rio, and that both parties, Peru and Colombia, should agree to ask Brazil, if at the end of that sixty day period no other agreement had been reached, to turn over the territory to Colombia. I said that that might offer a way out but it should be definitely understood that if no agreement is reached in Rio within the sixty days the territory must be turned over to Colombia anyhow. Mr. Morgan said that was understood.
I told Mr. Morgan that the important thing now of course, and the point that the Secretary has laid most emphasis on in connection with this matter, is that it should be definitely remembered that sovereignty over Leticia has never changed; that Colombia still has sovereignty over Leticia, and that Peru is merely occupying it—is merely in possession of it, and that the same would be the case when Brazil takes it over. Mr. Morgan said that he understood this. He added that if Peru would agree to this proposal and the occupiers of Leticia still refused to get out Colombian forces, in putting them out, would be dealing with the situation merely as a police matter. This would help the situation greatly.
Ambassador Morgan said that the Brazilian Government is sending off a telegram to Peru today in the sense of our telegram No. 25 [24?] of February 8, 5 p.m., and that he would cable us the substance of Brazil’s proposal to Peru as soon as he received it. I asked him to send us the actual text of the proposal rather than just the substance, and stressed again the importance of Brazil putting in writing, in clear and categoric terms, any proposal she submits to Peru … Mr. Morgan said the proposal would be in writing and he would cable it up as soon as he receives it from the Brazilian Government.
I inquired whether Brazil was also sending a telegram to Bogotá and said I thought an identic telegram or one making exactly the same proposal in writing should go to both countries to save time. Mr. Morgan said that he would take the matter up with the Foreign Office and would cable up the text of the proposal as soon as it is received.