721.23/1166: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Colombia (Caffery)
29. Your 40, February 16, 5 p.m., penultimate paragraph. It is not thought advisable for this Government to send an observer to the upper Amazon and Putumayo region from the Canal Zone using Colombian facilities. To send an official observer with Colombian forces might well be considered as a sign of partiality. Brazil has jurisdiction and responsibility in territory adjoining the scene of operations and quite properly has forces there to protect her own territory. The Department is endeavoring to arrange for the Military Attaché in Rio to join the Brazilian forces in that region in order to act as an observer and will advise you more fully later regarding this.
Last paragraph your 40, February 16, 5 p.m. Department does not feel that it can make the inquiry suggested. While this Government considers, as it has clearly shown in its communications to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, that Colombia is justified in this matter, nevertheless the dispute is not between this Government and Peru and this Government can not take action which might be considered as partial or unneutral as regards the prosecution of the conflict.
You should be careful not to let Olaya get the idea that this Government can perform services for Colombia which it is clearly the function of Colombian Government to perform for itself. Department does not want any misunderstanding or disappointment to develop later and hopes you will be able discreetly to see that Olaya fully appreciates our position and the necessary limitations on the services that this Government can perform for one of the parties to a conflict.