724.34119/1402: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)
77. For Braden. Your 152, June 11, 3 p.m. The Department appreciates the difficulties under which the neutral military observers are working at the present time, but considers it extremely important that observers should continue their service in the Chaco during the present critical stage of the negotiations. While the observers doubtless are seriously handicapped by the failure of the two parties to accept an adequate security system, they may be able to exercise enough of a moderating influence with the two high commands to prevent serious incidents. The Department suggests the following procedure:
- (a)
- Either Colonel Baker or the American Military Attaché at Rio de Janeiro should act as our military observer during the scheduled turn;
- (b)
- You may emphasize to your colleagues the view of this Government that in the event of the termination of direct negotiations immediate attention should be given to obtaining the acceptance by the two parties of an adequate security system in order to enable the military observers to function effectively.
Please telegraph your recommendations regarding our observer so that arrangements may be made with the War Department. The Department will give immediate attention to any suggestions or recommendations regarding conference action on the security question in the event that direct negotiations are declared terminated.