724.3415/4017: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:25 a.m.]
126. As previously arranged I met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Bolivian Minister and the Brazilian Ambassador, at the latter’s residence yesterday afternoon.
The Bolivian Minister read to us his Government’s reply to the Argentine Government referred to in the Department’s No. 70, July 26, 9 p.m. I pointed out that this had been qualified by declarations made to the Department (see your No. 73, August 1, 6 p.m.); the Minister for Foreign Affairs corroborated this referring to similar advices received from his Ambassador in Washington; the Brazilian Ambassador said these statements also accorded with his own information.
The Bolivian Minister then read a telegram from his Government dated August 15 to the effect that it had understood that conciliation would come first with arbitration as a last resort and not as a prerequisite and that in the present circumstances it must advance as a sine qua non an outlet on the Paraguay River, insinuating that the [Page 173] United States, Argentina and Brazil should ascertain Paraguay’s claims and then endeavor to reconcile the two. He continued to insist that his Government was in accord with the principles of the Argentine formula but that a “method” for conciliation must be worked out and that until such conciliation procedure was arrived at no progress could be made toward arbitration. This seemed to deadlock discussion and the Bolivian Minister withdrew saying he would again consult his Government and later ask for another interview.
The Brazilian Ambassador, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I are at one in considering that Bolivia’s attitude as set forth above represents a change of front from that previously made known to us and a return to its original position.
I am meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Brazilian Ambassador again this afternoon.