Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

724.34119/1315: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)

Washington, April 23, 1938—3 p.m.

52. For Braden. The American Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro reports³¹ that the Brazilian and Argentine Ministers for Foreign Affairs have agreed that “in the event of the failure of the efforts of the two Commissions recently sent to Asunción and La Paz, the Peace Conference at present sitting at Buenos Aires, should make a final proposal to the two litigants to the effect that they should, in accordance with the principles set out in the declaration of the third of August,³² have recourse, first, to the mediatory steps indicated in the Inter-American Treaty on Good Offices and Mediation,³³ concluded at the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, and then only as a final resort, in case this method fails, they should appeal to the Permanent Court of International Justice. If the proposal is not accepted, the Conference will declare terminated this phase of the negotiations (for the direct accord) and the parties should initiate steps for formulating the arbitral compromis”.

Please telegraph any information and comment regarding this proposal in addition to that contained in your 96, April 22, 7 p.m., especially as to whether proposal has been presented to and discussed by the conference.

Welles

31. Telegram No. 87, April 14, 4 p.m., not printed.
32. Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. v, p. 159.
33. Signed December 23, 1936, Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, p. 151.