724.3415/4192: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Bolivia (Des Portes)
25. Your 66, September 27, 4 p.m. In view of the definite statement made by the Department in the Department’s cable number 22, September 17, 7 p.m.,61 and which was communicated by you to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is a matter of surprise that the Bolivian Government should still be under the impression that this Government would accept membership in a commission appointed by the League of Nations to deal with the Chaco problem. You should call immediately upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and state that the decision of this Government in that regard has already been communicated to the Bolivian Government both through you as well as through the Bolivian Minister in Washington.
You should further advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs for his confidential information that in response to an informal inquiry received [Page 89] from the Secretary General of the League of Nations, the latter was yesterday informally advised by the American Consul in Geneva that while the United States was unable to participate in the proposed League Chaco commission, this Government, acting in its individual capacity would adopt a friendly and cooperative attitude towards the activities of the commission whenever in its own judgment such attitude might prove of practical assistance in furthering the pacific solution of the Chaco problem.
You may then add that this Government is sure that the Bolivian Government will recognize the earnest and consistent desire of the United States to assist in the solution of the Chaco problem as has been made peculiarly evident during the past few months by the continued efforts of the United States together with the Governments of Brazil and Argentina to find the grounds for a peaceful solution equally acceptable to Bolivia and to Paraguay and that it was understood from the message received from Dr. Alvesteguí and transmitted in your cable number 63, September 19, 3 p.m.,62 that it was the desire of the Government of Bolivia that these negotiations should continue. You may point out that the sole notification received by this Government from the Bolivian Government that the latter considered these negotiations as terminated was that contained in the recent declarations made by the Bolivian delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva. You may then request official confirmation of the fact that the Bolivian Government considers the mediation negotiations in which the United States has participated together with Brazil and Argentina as being terminated.
In conclusion you should state that this Government will, of course continue in its individual capacity to cooperate in endeavoring to further the peaceful solution of the Chaco war in every appropriate manner.