721.23/1190a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Morgan)
35. War Department, at my request, is instructing Major Sackville28 to proceed to scene of operations on the Amazon and Putumayo Rivers. [Page 483] Please take matter up at once with Brazilian Government; inquire whether it is agreeable to that Government for Sackville to go up to that area, and request them to give him all possible facilities to get there and to inquire regarding hostilities which occurred before his arrival and to observe those which may take place after his arrival. This Government would very much appreciate it should the Brazilian Government be so good as to permit Major Sackville to go on one of the Brazilian war vessels to Leticia and Tarapacá.
You will please tell Major Sackville that the object of sending him to the area of hostilities is to get accurate and impartial information regarding the situation there. The Department would like to know, for instance, whether recent attack near Tarapacá was started by Colombian or Peruvian forces and whether it originated in Brazilian territory or in Colombian. Information regarding feeling of Loretanos concerning Colombia and Peru and state of mind of inhabitants of Leticia area as well as any information regarding causes which impelled Peruvians to seize Leticia last September will be most helpful. Department wants accurate and prompt information regarding all future developments.
You will impress on Major Sackville that this Government is absolutely neutral and impartial in this dispute and that he should accordingly be most careful not to take sides with either the Colombians or the Peruvians. He should not accept facilities from either of the combatants and should use only facilities provided by the Brazilian Government or such neutral commercial facilities as may be available.
Department assumes that Major Sackville will take a code with him so that he can cable information directly to Washington.
Department understands that Major Sackville can get to Para by Pan American Airways. Any facilities, preferably by air, that Brazilian Government may give him from there to scene of action will be deeply appreciated by this Government.
Reply by cable when you have reply from Brazilian Government; keep matter actively before the Government and cable when Major Sackville will leave Rio and what facilities are being given to him to get quickly to the scene of operations.
- William Sackville, Military Attaché in Brazil.↩