724.34119/252: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
256. From Gibson. Last paragraph your 145, October 21, 5 p.m. The Neutral Military Commission’s report stating that all security measures called for by the Protocol have been complied with has been submitted to the Conference and accepted. The Conference cannot, therefore, delay much longer its declaration that the war is at an end. The mediatory delegates are in agreement that under the terms of article No. 2, paragraphs (b) and (d), and the penultimate paragraph of article No. 3 of the Protocol, the mandate and right of the Neutral Military Commission to maintain the lines of separation between the two armies will thereupon lapse.
In order to meet the situation, it has been decided to take advantage of communications made some time ago to the chairman of the Neutral Military Commission by the Bolivian and Paraguayan commanders-in-chief; the Bolivian asked that a neutral body be formed to police the lines of separation after the termination of the activities of the Neutral Military Commission and the Paraguayan agreed in principle to this suggestion. So as to have the necessary assent of the parties on record, the chairman of the Conference is consequently today requesting the two Governments to ratify their acceptance.
If approval is given it is intended to entrust the task to Uruguayan officers acting on behalf of the Conference; the enlisted force would continue to be half Paraguayan and half Bolivian.
The length of time which the new body would serve has not been specified in order to leave the Conference free to take such action in regard thereto as may be advisable after further developments. [Gibson.]