722.2315/1221a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)27
The President of Ecuador has telegraphed to the President suggesting that the governments which mediated in the Chaco problem take under their auspices the continuation of negotiations between Ecuador and Peru looking toward a settlement of the boundary dispute. It is understood that similar telegrams were addressed by the President of Ecuador to the Presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. You will please seek an early interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss this situation and to request the views of his government. You may leave with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the following memorandum:
“The Government of the United States understands that the President of Ecuador has addressed telegrams to the Presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and the United States of America, suggesting that those governments, which were represented in the mediatory group during the Chaco negotiations, take under their auspices the continuation of negotiations between Ecuador and Peru to settle the boundary dispute between those two countries.
“The Government of the United States is convinced that the other mediatory governments share its earnest desire that all boundary disputes still pending among the American republics may be settled promptly and peacefully. It also is convinced that the mediatory countries referred to share the willingness of the United States to be of any assistance possible to assure such pacific and prompt settlements.
“In accordance with the spirit of the pledges for consultation entered into at the Buenos Aires Conference this Government, prior to replying to the telegram received from the President of Ecuador, is desirous of exchanging ideas and receiving the views of the other governments to which similar telegrams were addressed. In considering the nature of the reply to be made to the Ecuadoran Government it is the view of this Government that within the existing peace machinery of this hemisphere there exist procedures believed adequate and effective for bringing about peaceful settlement of disputes between nations. Ecuador and Peru are parties to a number of inter-American peace treaties, in particular the Treaty to Avoid and Prevent Conflicts Between the American States signed at Santiago in 192328 and the Convention on Inter-American Conciliation signed at Washington in 1929,29 under which recourse may be had to permanent agencies as well as to ad hoc bodies.
“The Government of the United States is convinced that the other governments represented at the Chaco Peace Conference share the view that the procedure in the case of the dispute between Bolivia [Page 235] and Paraguay was well chosen, having produced a peaceful settlement. If the Government of Ecuador contemplates going outside of the peace mechanism established by treaty and calling upon the assistance of a mediatory group similar to that of the Chaco Peace Conference, this Government believes that such a procedure must also meet with the approval and have the support of the Government of Peru. This Government has no information as to the attitude of the Government of Peru in the premises.
“The Government of the United States would welcome an expression of the views of the Government of (insert name of country to which you are accredited) believing that in situations which may affect the peace of the hemisphere there should be full consultation and exchange of views in order to develop a common approach and attitude. The Government of the United States therefore will await the outcome of the present consultation and any others that may seem necessary in order to bring about this unified approach prior to replying to the message from the President of Ecuador.”
You will please cable the results of your interview as soon as possible. Similar telegrams are being sent to the missions at Santiago, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, and a copy is being telegraphed to the Embassy at Lima for its information.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, to the diplomatic missions in Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Repeated for information to the Chargé in Peru as No. 40, October 13, 4 p.m.↩
- Signed May 3, 1923, Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. i, p. 308.↩
- Signed January 5, 1929, ibid., 1929, vol. i, p. 653.↩