722.2315/1225: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:34 p.m.]
69. The Foreign Minister called me to his office this afternoon and stated that he had learned from the press that Argentina wishes to link the boundary dispute with Ecuador to the Pan American Conference. He declared that the Peruvian Government sees no connection whatsoever between the two but that in any case from the Peruvian viewpoint the boundary question was “paramount”. He gave me to understand that while Peru is sincerely disposed to arrive at satisfactory and peaceful settlement of the boundary dispute, the boundary question is one of sovereignty and therefore more important to Peru. I got the impression that Peru would even go so far as to postpone the Conference if necessary.
He also indicated that he feels that Ecuador is trying to take unfair advantage of the existing situation and called Ecuador’s appeal to the Chaco mediators both “extortion” and a form of “blackmail”, apologizing for the use of these strong words.
He repeated his statement of the other day that he expected some of the statesmen of the powers invited to mediate would try to use the occasion for purposes of self-aggrandizement. He considers that [Page 236] there is no similarity between the present situation and the Chaco dispute, as far as mediation is concerned. I gathered that Peru will resist any attempt at mediation at this time.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that he intended to say nothing about the foregoing to the other countries involved but that, because of his cordial friendliness toward the American Government, he wanted us to know Peru’s attitude.