Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The American Republics, Volume IV

721.23/1644: Telegram

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

Washington, May 3, 1933—5 p.m.

42. Your telegram No. 46, April 21, 5 p.m., was repeated to London and Geneva. The Embassy at London was instructed to inform the Foreign Office that the Department considers that this proposal offers “an eminently satisfactory and reasonable solution” and to express the hope that the British Government would urge its acceptance at Geneva.

The Embassy at London telegraphed on April 29⁶¹ that the Foreign Office “deplored these Colombian proposals” since in its opinion Colombia was amply protected under the Lester formula. The British agreed to support the Colombian proposal, however, with the exception of the stipulation in Article 2 that the League Commission should take over the Administration of the Leticia territory in the name and representation of the Government of Colombia: the Foreign Office considered that the territory should be taken over “in the name of the League of Nations”.

On May 2 the Department instructed the Embassy⁶² to point out at the Foreign Office that Colombian sovereignty over the Leticia area has never been disputed even by Peru, and to cite the conclusions of the unanimous report of the League Council of March 18⁶³ to the effect that both parties agree that the treaty is in force and that the Leticia area “forms part of the territory of the Republic of Colombia”. The Department added: “It is obviously important from the point of view of Colombian public opinion that this fact be specifically recognized in any formula, and this Government feels that the statement that the Commission should take over the administration of the territory in the name and representation of the Government of Colombia is entirely fair and reasonable. In fact, since the League’s recommendation called for the unconditional evacuation of the Leticia trapezium by Peru, it would seem that Colombia’s acceptance of the administration of that territory by a League Commission is extremely conciliatory. The Department very much hopes, therefore, that the British Government will support this latest proposal in its original form and urge its acceptance at Geneva”.

The foregoing is for your information.

Hull

61. Telegram No. 90, April 29, 1 p.m., not printed.
62. Telegram No. 86, May 2, 5 p.m., not printed.
63. See telegram No. 154, March 18, 5 p.m., from the Minister in Switzerland, p. 506.