740.00111A.R.–N.C./38
The Minister in Bolivia (Jenkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of January 31, 9 a.m., in reply to the Department’s circular of January 27, 3 p.m., regarding the position of the Department relative to the resolution of the Neutrality Committee sitting in Rio de Janeiro questioning its competence to deal with the problems arising out of the Declaration of Panama.
The telegram arrived on January 29, a holiday in honor to [of] the Bolivian protomartyrs Murillo and Ságarnaga. It was not possible to see Dr. Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, until 5:30 the next day. When the substance of the Department’s telegram under reference was explained to him he stated with all emphasis that he wholeheartedly supported the position of the [Page 277] Department and that of the Brazilian Government, and reiterated that he thought that the Neutrality Committee was in all respects qualified and competent to deal with any questions arising out of the Declaration of Panama. He went on to point out that he had a particular interest in the matter inasmuch as he felt that his labors in bringing the Declaration into being entitled him to consider himself one of its fathers. He further stated that he had already heard of the deplorable questioning by the Committee of its own competence and that he had made known his views as just expressed to the Bolivian Minister at Washington.
Respectfully yours,