834.01/23: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)
30. For Braden. Your 57, March 10, 11 p.m. This Government believes it to be undesirable to accord recognition to the government of Paraguay in the manner indicated in your telegram under reference and shares most decidedly the opinion suggested in paragraph 4 of your telegram that recognition by the mediatory nations should be undertaken by means of identic notes and not by means of a joint note.
The form of identic note more satisfactory to this Government would be worded as follows:
“The Government of the United States of America has noted with gratification:
1. The statements contained in the telegram dated March 5 from the Provisional President of Paraguay to the Presidents of the mediating nations represented at the Peace Conference;
2. The statements contained in the telegram of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Stefanich, addressed to the Chairman of the Peace Conference under date of March 8;
3. The expressions contained in the first of the above-mentioned communications relative to the proposal of the Government to respect the democratic principles which prevail in America;
[Page 884]4. The desire manifested by the new Government to proceed without delay to the repatriation of prisoners of war as already initiated, in accordance with the above-mentioned telegram from the Minister for Foreign Affairs; and
5. Other public declarations formulated by the same Government.
As a result of its deliberation and after consulting with the governments of the other mediatory nations represented at the Peace Conference, the Government of the United States has with much pleasure reached the conclusion that it is the express intention of the Government of Paraguay to respect in every way the peace protocols signed in Buenos Aires on June 12, 1935, and on the 21st of January, 1936, as well as its other international obligations.
Consequently, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that my Government will be pleased to maintain with the Government of Paraguay the friendly relations that are traditional between our two countries.”
Please consult Dr. Saavedra Lamas and the other delegates to the Peace Conference at the earliest opportunity and advise them of the preference of this Government for notification of recognition to be undertaken by means of identic notes delivered simultaneously rather than for notification of recognition by joint note as suggested.
The draft note above quoted appears to the Department to be preferable in sequence of considerations as well as in form to that suggested by the Conference and it hopes that you may be able to persuade the other delegates to agree to this form.
Please cable as far in advance as possible what day and time may be determined upon for recognition by the other powers in order that full instructions may be sent in ample time to the Legation in Asunción.