724.3415/3921a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson)
80. The Argentine Ambassador in Washington has handed the Department a copy of the conciliation formula97 prepared by Dr. Saavedra Lamas and submitted to the Paraguayan President and to the Bolivian Government. The Department is informed that the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs is “certain of Paraguayan acceptance”. It further understands that the suggested formula has been under discussion with the Paraguayan Government for some time and that the Argentine Government has positive reason to believe that it is acceptable to Paraguay. The Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs states that the success of this attempted mediation now rests on the attitude of the Bolivian President and feels that every possible influence should be brought to bear to secure his acceptance of the project. He has requested the whole-hearted support of this Government and has urged that the influence of the United States be brought to bear upon Bolivia in order to procure the acceptance of that Government. The Department is further informed that a copy of the conciliation formula was handed yesterday by Dr. Saavedra Lamas to the Brazilian Ambassador in Buenos Aires and that such communication had only been made to the Brazilian and the United States Governments.
The Argentine Government has been informed as follows:
- (1)
- The Government of the United States is now as always disposed to exert every effort to promote a peaceful solution of the Chaco dispute and to cooperate with any nation, or group of nations, or any organization, towards that end, provided such cooperation is agreeable to the two nations at war, and provided further that such a move appears to hold the promise of success. Predicated upon the assumption that the suggested formula will be accepted unequivocally by [Page 143] Paraguay in accordance with the assurances given by the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Government of the United States will be glad to cooperate with the Argentine Government in this move and to urge acceptance by the Government of Bolivia with the hope and belief that the Government of Brazil will likewise cooperate in the same manner jointly with Argentina and the United States.
- (2)
- The views of the Brazilian Government as to the settlement of the Chaco dispute as set forth in your 129, July 6, 6 p.m., are, of course, entitled to the fullest respect and the most sympathetic consideration by this Government. The Government of the United States, however, does not assume that the Government of Brazil would be unwilling to cooperate in any peace move merely on the ground that the matter was technically still in the hands of the League so long as the Brazilian Government has valid reason to believe that such a peace move had reasonable prospects of success. While there is not as yet complete “assurance that a solution has been found which would be acceptable to the two contending parties” as stated in Clause B, paragraph 2 of your cable above referred to, the nature of the conciliation formula, the assurances given that this formula is certain of acceptance by Paraguay, and the particularly cordial relations existing between Bolivia and Brazil would seem to offer reasonable hope for the success of this peace move if the Brazilian Government were to join with the United States and Argentine urging their acceptance of the formula.
We hope very strongly, consequently, that the Government of Brazil may feel disposed to cooperate in the manner indicated inasmuch as it is our belief that no valid and legitimate opportunity should be lost for bringing about the fair and peaceful settlement of the Chaco dispute. This Government will appreciate receiving at the earliest possible moment an expression of the views of the Government of Brazil which it trusts may be favorable.
Should the Foreign Minister express objection to Buenos Aires as the seat of the proposed conciliation conference, you may discreetly point out to him that Bio de Janeiro has had the good fortune of being the seat of the conference which brought about the successful termination of the Leticia dispute, a fact which will always be remembered by the American republics, and that in the special circumstances it would be regrettable if any objection as to the seat of the conference as proposed by the Argentine Government were to involve a breakdown of these present negotiations.
You may further state that this Government has expressed the opinion to Argentina that if the present move is successful and a confidential agreement is reached between Paraguay and Bolivia through the good offices of Argentina, Brazil and the United States, the other republics of the continent should then be invited to join when the formula is officially and publicly presented to Bolivia and Paraguay. This suggestion is in line with the suggestion of the Brazilian Government as conveyed in paragraph 5 of your cable under reference.
[Page 144]Finally, you may state that we reciprocate wholeheartedly the sentiments expressed by Dr. Cavalcanti and that we deem it essential to work in full cooperation with his Government, and that in accordance with his request we have thus communicated very frankly our view and our sincere belief that the present move offers promise of practical success provided Brazil is willing to take part in it.
- See supra.↩