724.34119/1389: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:55 a.m.]
145. From Braden. Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs last night informed me and the Brazilian delegate that the Bolivian and Paraguayan Foreign Ministers had tea with him alone. Former was thoroughly reasonable and agreed if the offer were made to him to increase cash payment to 400,000 pounds. On the other hand Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs again declaimed on Zubizarreta’s lack of influence with the army and politically, availed of every excuse [Page 137] to avoid signing agreement but finally promised to telephone President of Paraguay presumably to request more liberal instructions.
Subsequently Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs gave me same description of the meeting adding that the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs was very mild in approaching the Paraguayan. When the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs urged settlement as necessary success Lima Conference46 Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs says he replied that if after all his country’s conciliatory efforts and sacrifices no agreement were reached or arbitral compromise concerted in accordance with pledges given by Argentine and Brazilian Foreign Ministers on June 12, 1935, Bolivia would lose all faith in collaboration of American nations, would not attend Conference at Lima or any other, and would devote herself to war preparations to win back her just rights. [Braden.]