724.34119/1422: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 25—2 a.m.]
164. From Braden. Paraguayan counter-proposal offers line D’Orbigny Capirenda, Carandaity, Matico, Ravelo to point on Otuquis at latitude of San Juan down that river to its mouth on Paraguay River leaving forts Galpon and Patria for Paraguay.
Memorandum accompanying proposal reiterates irreductibility regarding cession of river south of mouth of Otuquis; argues interior line must be based on intermediary line with qualitative territorial compensations for any withdrawal made therefrom; preserves Paraguayan rights to entire Chaco in event this proposal is rejected; claims above line is only one affording security to Paraguay but concludes [Page 146] with statement Paraguay will consider new proposal the Conference may desire to make.
Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs reported junior Paraguayan delegate had told him counter-proposal was made to give an opening to negotiations; that civilians in Asunción were disposed to accept Conference proposal in the interior but that military insisted a fight should be made for a better line before accepting; Paraguay would grant Bolivia a free port wherever desired and counter-proposal was made precisely to bring about another one from the Conference.
Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs also quoted Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs as being willing in the last extremity to accept line D’Orbigny; 27 November; a point approximately 20 [19] degrees 45 south 61 degrees 10 west; a point midway between Ravelo and intermediary line; to approximately 19 degrees 15 south 59 degrees 9 west passing close to Galpon and Patria; to mouth of Otuquis. Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs previously had agreed with me that he would accept Conference line but ending at mouth of Otuquis and with minor alterations to west and north.
At the suggestion of Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs the Conference decided: (1) to advise Paraguayans in session tomorrow their proposal is totally unacceptable and we will not even submit it to Bolivians but we will endeavor to induce the latter to cede river and to improve conference line in the west and north; (2) we will spend 2 or 8 days negotiating maximum concessions from Bolivia; (3) if successful with Bolivia Conference will then present final offer making clear to Paraguayans no further negotiations are possible and if it is rejected direct negotiations will be declared terminated.
I expressed fear that the peculiar Paraguayan psychology was never to believe us when we claimed to have said our last word; when we offered five they always asked for six hence to get five we should offer four or less. I urged day and night negotiations with Paraguayans trading on the basis of our May 27 proposal. However, procedure decided upon by the Conference at least has the advantage of quickly reaching a conclusion.
Aside from Paraguayan intransigence principal handicap is timidity of the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs vis-à-vis Paraguayans, the fact that he is poor negotiator and his main concern to get rid of the Chaco.
Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs tells me he advised Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs that if no progress has been made early next week he will withdraw acceptance of Conference proposal and leave Buenos Aires Wednesday.
Chilean delegate reports unusually large arms shipments through Arica to Bolivia during April. [Braden.]