722.2315/1489: Telegram
The Permian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Solf y Muro) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24—4:55 a.m.]
I have the honor to refer to Your Excellency’s courteous cablegram of the 20th instant, in which you are good enough to inform me that the Governments of Argentina, Brazil and the United States have received with satisfaction the replies of Peru and Ecuador to the offer which they made to the Governments of the latter countries in their cablegram of the 8th instant. The good offices having been accepted in my Government’s reply of the 12th [13th] instant “to the end that an atmosphere of cordiality and sincere cooperation between the two countries may be reestablished”, Peru will give due consideration to suggestions directed toward this end, but it deems that joint conversations of the representatives of the interested countries and of the friendly countries making the offer are not in harmony with the institution of good offices, a form which would be characteristic of a mediation, which Peru has not accepted. The Government of Peru thinks that the immediate discussion of the boundary difference would heighten the tension between the two countries, producing, precisely, the contrary effect to that which the friendly Governments propose to secure. The supreme purpose which ought to be sought at this time is the creation of an atmosphere of pacification and concord, basis of the effective solidarity which is demanded by the period through which America is passing and which would not be compatible with a hasty solution of the problem. The insuperable obstacle which has hitherto prevented reaching an agreement on the boundary dispute is the insistent Ecuadoran attitude of controverting the nationality of the provinces of Tumbes, Jaén and Maynas which form an integral part of Peru of their own free will, reiterated throughout our life as a Republic, consecrated by the principles which inspired the emancipating revolution and which are recognized by universal public law. In the face of this attitude Peru has taken the immutable position fixed in my previous note, a position which would be taken by any people conscious of its national unity. Peru, which has respected the status quo and which has maintained absolute serenity in the face of the Ecuadoran agitation of recent months, will continue the same line of conduct, accepting the suggestion which Your Excellency makes at the close of the cablegram to which I replied. Likewise Peru is disposed to subscribe to a juridical instrument guaranteeing peace [Page 231] between the two countries and establishing a regime of effective cooperation until an opportunity arises to obtain a settlement of the difference. Thus the noble purpose will be satisfied which is expressed by the friendly countries of removing any situation which, by injuring the harmonious relations between two sister Republics, may diminish or undermine the strength of continental solidarity.
I avail myself [etc.]