Office of the Historian

725.34/47: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)

Washington, August 23, 1934—5 p.m.

95. The Department has this morning received a cable from the Embassy in Santiago stating that the Chilean Government is willing [Page 314] to accredit the Chilean Secretary now at Asunción as Chargé d’Affaires providing Paraguay will make reply to the Chilean note more or less as follows:

  • “1) Acknowledgment receipt of the note;
  • 2) Taking advantage of the opportunity presented to repeat the statement contained in the communique of August 9th, condemning the press campaign against members of the Chilean Government;
  • 3) In the conversations which took place in Buenos Aires between the representatives of the friendly countries, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States expressed their hope of counting upon the cooperation of Chile in the negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the Chaco question. The Paraguayan Government has seen with pleasure the efforts which Chile has dedicated jointly with the other governments towards this noble end and reserving the right to discuss the questions relative to neutrality by means of the normal channels as has been the case up to the present, would be pleased to see the general efforts bring about the peaceful result desired by general American sentiment.”

The Department understands that Dr. Saavedra Lamas has been advised of this Chilean suggestion. You may take the opportunity of advising Dr. Saavedra Lamas that this Government has been informed of the proposal and that it trusts that the procedure so indicated may be supported by Dr. Saavedra Lamas as a means of re-establishing promptly normal diplomatic relations between Chile and Paraguay. Please state further that in the same manner in which this Government was glad to accede to Dr. Saavedra Lamas’ earlier request that it support his efforts to solve the diplomatic incident between the two countries, it will now be glad to cooperate for the same purpose.

Phillips