724.34119/1460: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:15 p.m.]
191. From Braden. By intensive trading yesterday afternoon and making use of the addition quoted first paragraph my 188, July 8, 8 p.m. all major alterations to the treaty were obviated. Please correct text of the treaty as follows: Second paragraph article I, insert the word “approximately” between “i. e.” and “keeping it” [“meridian”]. Article XI, insert “arbitration or” before “international justice”.
Junior Paraguayan delegate met with Finot, Chilean delegate, and myself this morning in my rooms. He asked that the wording of article No. II of the final be amended to permit the parties to present arguments to the arbitrators should they so desire; and also to put less emphasis on the arbitrators not taking into consideration juridical titles, et cetera. Bolivian delegate is willing and the article will be so amended. The Paraguayan objection on this subject is to offset arguments Zubizarreta has said he would found on those two points.
Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs has telegraphed text of the treaty to La Paz and tells me he expects approval within 2 days. Estigarribia and Junior Paraguayan delegate will fly to Asunción on Monday morning to get approval and expect to be in Buenos Aires again the following day so the treaty may be signed late in the day or on Wednesday. However, there is a possibility the Paraguayan Government may give Zubizarreta a hearing when he is in Asunción Wednesday, before giving final approval. While Zubizarreta has indicated he would not openly oppose treaty he may do so anyway. He is very influential in Paraguay but I hope Estigarribia’s influence added to the Government’s, Army, Liberal Party and others previously mentioned, should carry the day.
[Page 167]Your 88, July 7, 2 p.m. Conference issued communiqué immediately after initialing ceremony at 3 a.m., today which emphasized importance of Foreign Ministers having initialed treaty of peace and limits though it is still subject to approval of Governments. Statements by the Department along this line and references to display of democratic principles involved in plebiscite would seem most appropriate until formal signature of the treaty.
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It is the understanding of the Conference that regulations to be drafted subsequently will give to the fifth member of the surveying commission provided for in article IV the deciding vote in case of tie.
During the 20 days elapsing before ratification is obtained the Conference intends to send a military commission to the Chaco, particularly to determine the location of the line along the Otuquis River so that the question of Forts Galpon and Patria can be adjusted satisfactorily in the arbitral award. [Braden.]