824.01/62: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Scotten) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:45 p.m.]
80. Department’s telegram No. 46, July 19, 8 p.m.21 In a conversation I had this afternoon with the Minister of Foreign Affairs the latter stated that he did not consider it advisable or necessary to extend formal recognition to the new Bolivian Government, but he considered it preferable to maintain normal diplomatic relations with that Government on the theory that it is merely a prolongation of the previous régime. He added that his views are shared by the Governments of Chile and Peru, as well as by the representatives of the Chaco Conference at Buenos Aires. However, he is informed that the Argentine Government is considering extending formal recognition to the new Bolivian Government within a few days. He explained that he had received formal assurances from the Bolivian Minister here similar to those received by the Department to the effect that the new Bolivian Government intends to respect its international obligations. The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that his information regarding the stability and authority and popular support of the new Bolivian Government is somewhat conflicting and he is not prepared to state at present that he considers that Government to possess the unanimous support of the Bolivian Army. I inquired whether he believed that the Bolivian Government itself would be satisfied with maintaining relations with other governments without a formal act of recognition and he answered that he had received assurances through the Bolivian Minister that that Government would be entirely satisfied with this arrangement. He explained, furthermore, that he considers the situation to be somewhat different from the cases of recognition of the present Government in Paraguay and the Toro Government in Bolivia since both of those Governments were military governments resulting directly from the overthrow through revolution of civilian governments; that he considers that the present Government of Bolivia is on the other hand merely an ascension to power of a military officer succeeding another military officer and this point, in addition to his lack of certainty regarding the stability of the present Government, strengthens his opinion regarding the desirability merely of maintaining relations with the new Government in Bolivia without any formal act of recognition.