724.34119/654: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7 p.m.]
218. From Braden. My 216, October 10, 5 p.m.
1. The following is translation of draft Conference note to be delivered to the President of the Paraguayan delegation:
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s note of September 11 with its complimentary annexes in which Your Excellency, following instructions from your Government, answers the note of this Conference dated August 21 last past.
After long deliberations the Conference acted by virtue of faculties conferred upon it by the peace protocols of June 12, 1935 and January 21, 1936. Its note directed to the delegations of Paraguay and Bolivia on August 21 last past had no other intent than to insure the collaboration of the parties to the exercise of the right pertaining to the Conference to exercise the control and vigilance referred to in the said peace protocols.
This resolution of August 20 does not involve in any way a diminution of the contractual dispositions of article No. II paragraph No. 1 [3?] of the protocol of June 12, 1935 reaffirmed by the protocolized act of January 21, 1936 and with it the Conference proposes to insure the application of the security measures until the solution is obtained of the differences between Paraguay and Bolivia.
The Peace Conference because it is charged to decide the practical questions which arise in the execution of the security measures considers that it is urgent to complete the regulation of the faculties of control and vigilance which it must exercise in order to insure the continued observance of the pact of non-aggression and to define its scope.
By virtue of the above, in accordance with the note of August 21, last past, through me Your Excellency’s Government is invited to name two military delegates who together with the two named by Bolivia and thereby to be designated for the same purpose by the Conference will proceed to complete the said reglementation.
I have the honor to be, Sir et cetera”
2. In order to avoid protracted discussion with Ramírez it seems best not to consult him before delivering this note. It gives him no opportunity for argument except that he might dispute the accuracy of the opening sentence of paragraph 2; Rodrigues Alves and I will endeavor to induce our colleagues to eliminate this sentence. I would appreciate your instructions before three tomorrow afternoon at which time a session is scheduled to approve the note.
3. Note to Bolivia will be an acknowledgement of their acceptance of Conference August 21 note plus the closing paragraph of the note. Romero will be given in confidence a copy of the note to Paraguay.
4. Uruguayan delegate and I have opposed the Conference publication of our note; other delegates favor doing so.
5. Each mediatory Government will be requested to appoint one member to the reglementation commission which will probably meet in Villa Montes. Because of Major Weeks’ ability and unique experience I shall subsequently request that he be assigned to this duty. [Braden.]