724.3415/4392: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Brazil (Gordon)
177. Your 328, December 3, 7 p.m. You may inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs that this Government is deeply gratified to learn that the views of the Brazilian Government with regard to the invitation of the League of Nations are so nearly identical to those held by the United States. You may further say that in deference to the desire expressed by the Foreign Minister, this Government will be glad to withhold its official reply to the League invitation until the latter part of this week with the hope that this action may be conducive to a successful termination of the negotiations which the foreign Minister is conducting with Paraguay and Bolivia. This Government, however, does not feel that it should withhold its official reply for any additional period in view of the mistaken conjectures which such postponement might give rise to.
This Government further fully appreciates the fact that the situation of Brazil as a country contiguous to the belligerents is dissimilar to that of the United States and that for that reason the Brazilian representative appointed to the Neutral Supervisory Commission would be given full powers. The United States, however, in view of its individual position, and because of the fact that the Commission might at certain times be subject to the jurisdiction of the Assembly of the League, does not feel able to alter its decision that its own representative should be without vote and without powers to commit this Government except after specific instruction.
Aranha, in conversation here, has intimated very strongly that he opposes the Foreign Minister’s negotiations through the Bolivian and Paraguayan Ministers in Rio. He has sent an urgent cable requesting him to desist from a continuation of these negotiations and recommending that the Brazilian Government adopt an attitude similar to that of the United States.
For your own guidance, this Government is not inclined to predicate its acceptance of the League invitation upon immediate cessation of hostilities by the belligerents. The League proposal presupposes cessation of hostilities under the regulation of the Neutral Supervisory [Page 120] Commission and in view of the existing military situation, it would seem highly improbable that Paraguay, even if it accepts the League proposal, will agree to this further condition now sought by Brazil. Consequently, this Government stands on the decisions already communicated to you and will transmit its official replies to Geneva without modification at the time indicated above. You will be advised by cable as soon as the replies are cabled to Geneva.