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

721.23/1715: Telegram

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

Geneva, May 13, 1933—7 p.m.
[Received 9 p.m.]

180. Our 179, May 12, 11 a.m.

1. The Advisory Committee on Colombia-Peru met this morning and discussed the matter from two angles: (a) Regarding the settlement of the dispute. The President informed the Committee of the circumstances of the Lopez mission to Lima which he understood from the Colombian representative was of a purely informal character and that the Colombian Government considers the only official negotiations to be those now going forward in Geneva and the only terms for settlement those which the Committee has brought to the attention of the parties; (b) Regarding the Peruvian warships Lester opened the discussion by observing that on May 8th the Committee had taken a decision that no facilities should be accorded to the Peruvian ships to continue their voyage. He then called upon the British representative (at whose instance the meeting had been called). The latter introduced his statement by objecting to Lester’s describing the action taken at the recent meeting of the Committee as a “decision” declaring it was rather a recommendation by the Committee for the consideration of the various Governments concerned. The British representative then described the fueling of the ships at Trinidad as follows: That the Foreign Office had received a request from Peru that the usual facilities be accorded their ships which were to arrive at Trinidad on the 12th or 13th of May; that the British Government considered the matter carefully, the issues being complicated and embarrassing; that the British Government postponed its decision to the latest moment possible in view of the difficulties involved; that in these circumstances the ships arrived at Trinidad were fueled and given facilities and even departed (he understood) before instructions were received by the authorities at Trinidad from the British Government to afford no facilities.

2. Carr calculated that the cruiser can reach the Amazon without refueling although it may be necessary for the submarines to refuel en route. This means that in all probability they may touch before reaching the Amazon and the Brazilian ports at British, French or Dutch Guiana.

3. The British representative then read a formal declaration which will be subsequently circulated to the effect that the British Government views with misgivings the taking of any step not in accord with international law; that it had some hesitation therefore in complying with the Committee’s recommendations regarding not giving facilities to the Peruvian ships; if in every particular the Committee were unanimous on this subject the British Government would enter into an undertaking under certain conditions; namely if the refusal of facilities would not include prohibition of entrance into ports the usual courtesies of the port, et cetera, the supplying of food and water in case of distress; and that it should not constitute a precedent.

4. After discussion the British declared their willingness not to press for unanimity at this juncture and to adopt such a position now in view of the similar attitude already manifested by the French and Dutch who were the other parties really concerned but added that the position needed more general support and that therefore the British Government would be very interested if the representatives of all the states seated at this table would adopt a similar position. The Venezuelan delegate replied that he could not speak for his Government without cabling for instructions. The Brazilian delegate made the same declaration. In view of the fact that the phraseology of the British representative expressly including all states represented at this table I stated that if the Committee took a decision in this connection I would report this decision as I had previous decisions of the Committee to my Government.

5. The Committee then decided unanimously to adopt the position summed up by the chairman as follows:

6. That supplies and other active assistance (such as repairs) would be refused the Peruvian ships but that this refusal does not imply refusal of permission to Peruvian ships to entail ports or receive courtesies. Further, this refusal does not extend to such supplies of food and water as may be judged necessary on the ground of humanity by the local authorities of any ports entered. Finally, that this should not constitute a precedent. Lester added that of course the British declaration or the adoption of it as the attitude of the other Governments concerned could not be taken as defining or in any way limiting the recommendations of the Council.

7. In reaching the conclusion embodied in the foregoing paragraph the debate brought out two points of particular interest. The Mexican delegate made repeated endeavors to dilute the vigor of the action taken. Drummond speaking directly after the British declaration said that in his opinion Peru was playing for time until the squadron could arrive in the Upper Amazon; that giving of facilities to the warships was playing Peru’s game; that withholding of facilities and delaying the arrival of the Peruvian fleet was the best support possible for the Committee’s proposals of settlement recently made to the two parties.

Wilson