710.G 1A/127
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
Mr. Espil, the Argentine Ambassador, in conversation with me a day or two ago, said that his Government is anxious to call a special conference quickly to consider the Chaco matter7 and presumably the Leticia matter8 also. Another alternative would be to limit topics on the agenda of the Seventh Pan American Conference and have the meeting of that Conference advanced so that the Chaco matter could be discussed promptly. He said that he had discussed the matter with the Mexican Ambassador who was thoroughly in accord with cutting down the program of the Seventh Pan American Conference and advancing the date thereof, and he thought some of the others were also, and he asked if I would sound out some of them. I told Mr. Espil that I would do so and had intended discussing the limitation of the program in any event (the Secretary had asked me to sound out some of the Latin American diplomats before the next Governing Board meeting on April fifth). Accordingly I discussed the matter with the Brazilian, Peruvian and Cuban Ambassadors, the Chilean Chargé d’Affaires, and the Ministers of Colombia, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Panama. All were in favor personally of cutting down the program and the Cuban Ambassador, the Guatemalan and Panamanian Ministers, [Page 5] and the Chilean Chargé indicated that they were ready to act in that sense if a proposal should be made at the next meeting. The Chilean Chargé said that he would consult his Government but he knew that Señor Cruchaga favored some such action. The Peruvian and Brazilian Ambassadors said they would consult their Governments. The Brazilian Ambassador indicated that his Government last year had been very explicit that the Seventh Pan American Conference should not be held before December, 1933, and he did not know how they would look upon holding it at an earlier date. The Colombian Minister was in favor of cutting down the agenda but talked rather disconnectedly and inexplicitly regarding a conference having anything to do with the Leticia matter.
The Ecuadoran Minister personally is in favor of limiting the program to the question of peace in this hemisphere and feels confident that his Government is of the same opinion. He is also personally in favor of advancing the date of the Conference but does not know the views of his Government on this matter.