Office of the Historian

721.23/1677: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson), at Geneva

Washington, May 9, 1933—noon.

99. Your 172, May 5, noon.69 This Government has followed the policy that in the case of possible armed conflict between two American states it would refrain from facilitating in any way the preparations of either party and that consequently no facilities of any nature belonging to this Government would be placed at the disposal of either party which would assist them in their preparation for possible hostilities. This policy has been applied with scrupulous impartiality to both Colombia and Peru. When the Peruvian ships recently arrived in the Canal Zone and requested certain supplies which would have amounted to fitting out through utilization of the facilities of this Government, this request was refused. They were informed, however, that fuel from private tanks and water from the only available source would be allowed, and that provisions in normal quantity could be secured from Panama.

Reference first paragraph your 174, May 6, 1 p.m.70 You will observe from the foregoing that Mássigli’s statement that the Peruvian ships’ “request for revictualing was refused by the Canal authorities on the ground that they were belligerents” is not correct.

It is believed that paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article III of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty71 are not applicable to this situation in view of the fact that there has been no recognition of a state of war as between Colombia and Peru.

You may make such discreet use of the foregoing as you judge advisable, but please continue to take no part in the discussions. Keep Department fully informed by cable.

Hull
  1. This and other correspondence, not printed, referred to discussions as to facilities to be granted or denied to three Peruvian warships which had passed through the Panama Canal en route to the upper reaches of the Amazon in Peru.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Foreign Relations, 1902, p. 517.↩