Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

724.34119/1402: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State

Buenos Aires, June 11, 1938—3 p.m.
[Received 4:02 p.m.]

152. From Braden. My 151, June 10, 8 p.m. Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs accepted week’s delay subject to it being made clear it was from Paraguayan request and that he would only attend Montevideo inauguration if his presence is not required here by Chaco negotiations.

The turn of the United States to send military observer to Chaco comes on June 15. I have stated that I oppose sending ours because if direct negotiations are declared terminated, the protocol provides for arbitral compromise to be arrived at “by the parties” and I question mediators’ responsibility for maintenance of security during the period of drafting. All my colleagues believe that the observers should be kept in Chaco until the compromise is drafted. I argued that while for a time after arrest and danger to lives of Chilean and Uruguayan officers (see my despatch 498, 20th September last)⁴⁸ conditions improved, they have recently deteriorated so that at present neutral officers are not receiving consideration due their rank and mission and Conference’s failure will cause them to be treated with even greater discourtesy. I am unwilling to have American Army officer subjected to indignities causing the United States to lose face; observers’ usefulness without the April 23 resolution⁴⁹ will be practically nil and I object to having an American officer present if hostilities are renewed, a contingency I foresee as an increasing probability after Conference failure. I believe that under no circumstances should observers be maintained unless adequate security system is accepted by Bolivia and Paraguay.

Colonel Baker⁵⁰ concurs. Please instruct. My stand has the further usefulness of bringing home to the Paraguayans and incidentally Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs gravity of the situation once direct negotiations are terminated.

Press reports that bubonic plague has broken out within a few miles of Villa Montes Road. [Braden.]

Weddell

48. Not printed.
49. See The Chaco Peace Conference, p. 23, and annex 29, p. 108.
50. Col. Lester D. Baker, Military Attaché in Argentina, military adviser to the delegation of the United States to the Chaco Peace Conference, representative of the United States on the Special Military Commission.