724.3415/3526: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva ( Gilbert ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—9:55 a.m.]
27. The Secretariat has received a confidential cablegram from the Chaco Commission which though hopeful in tone is vague as to details. The following, however, appears to be the substance.
- 1.
- Both parties seem anxious for a rapid settlement and wish to avoid extended direct negotiations.
- 2.
- Bolivia still urges an integral arbitral settlement which Paraguay does not appear to be ready to accept.
- 3.
- Another difficulty arises with respect to occupied troop positions during an armistice pending final settlement.
- 4.
- The Paraguayan representative has returned to his capital to receive fresh instructions and will probably rejoin the Commission next week.
- 5.
- Neither party is in favor at present of having recourse to the good offices of the neighboring states.
This last point is confirmed by a communication from the Bolivian Government to the Secretariat deprecating reports in the South American press to the effect that the Bolivian suggestion concerning [Page 50] cooperation of the neighboring states was a maneuver to remove the question from the Council’s purview.