Office of the Historian

721.23/1166: Telegram

The Minister in Colombia (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

Bogotá, February 16, 1933—5 p.m.
[Received 11:50 p.m.]

40. Last paragraph Department’s 26, February 15, 6 p.m., Olaya says Guzmán was acting under instructions and that orders had been given to Colombian vessels on the Putumayo to attack Peruvian positions for the following reasons:

[Page 481]
1.
The Colombian Government is much concerned over the possibility of a change in Brazil’s attitude toward the Colombian expedition especially that Brazil might prevent the purchase and transportation necessary supplies for the fleet (my despatches 5165, February 10 and 5176, February 11th26).
2.
Peruvian garrisons at Yubineto, Inonas and Puerto Arturo do not permit passage Colombian vessels and fleet cannot now be supplied from this end.
3.
The Military said that if vessels approached Peruvian garrisons directly and waited for Peruvian attack they would be sunk whereas if they attacked from a distance they could disperse garrisons.
4.
Military believed they could hold part of Peruvian banks of Putumayo as pressure to compel Peruvians eventually to return Leticia.
5.
Military said that if Colombian boats advanced past Ramón Castilla towards Leticia without firing they would be caught between the two Peruvian fires and sunk.

I told Olaya in my purely personal opinion this movement would involve some change of attitude on the part of the Department of State as well as the League of Nations to the Leticia controversy; it might nullify Santos’ efforts in connection with article 16 of the League Pact. I observed in regard to point 1 that Brazil had not actually taken any steps to interfere with the Colombian supplies; I regarded point 4 as unsatisfactory and designed to delay real settlement possibly indefinitely.

Olaya telephoned to the Minister of War and instructed him to hold up advance of vessels. He said he would telegraph to Santos today to proceed under article 16. If Peruvian forces at Leticia oppose Colombian entry he will attack first by air before vessels approach. However, he very much desires to have present observers from Department of State, League of Nations, Brazilian Government. He asks if American official Canal Zone could be appointed and proceed by Colombian plane.

He would highly appreciate it if the Department of State could have Embassy at Rio de Janeiro discreetly ascertain if there is likelihood of change of Brazilian attitude toward Colombian expeditionary force.

Caffery
  1. Neither printed.↩