Office of the Historian

722.2315/1570b: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics Except Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru

Washington, July 8, 1941—9 p.m.

In company with your Argentine and Brazilian colleagues please seek a joint interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country to which you are accredited and convey to him the message that follows hereafter. In the countries where there are no representatives of Argentina and Brazil you should state that the views you are expressing hereafter have been agreed upon by the Governments of Argentina, Brazil and the United States:

  • “1. The present incident between Peru and Ecuador serves to explain the celerity with which Argentina, Brazil and the United States were led to act on the 8th of May, ultimo, in offering their services to Ecuador and to Peru.
  • 2. The aggravation of the situation which led to that offer has now demonstrated the necessity of even more ample, common and solidary action on the part of all of the Americas for the purpose of terminating honorably an incident which threatens to spread ever more and to jeopardize the peace of these two peoples and of continental unity and safety.
  • 3. Animated by the same motives which determined their initial offer to Ecuador and to Peru and relying upon the sentiments of these two brother peoples, they suggest a joint effort on the part of all of the American countries with the object of reestablishing the harmony of our continent, and as a first step they have the honor to submit the terms which they have addressed to Ecuador and Peru, and which they hope will be supported by the Government of Your Excellency.”

The terms referred to in the previous paragraph are quoted hereafter [Page 233] from the instructions sent by the three governments to their representatives in Lima and Quito.

“(Here quote last two paragraphs in telegram to Lima.30)”

Welles

[Serious fighting in the border regions broke out on July 23, 1941. An agreement was reached for the cessation of fighting on July 31 but sporadic hostilities occurred later. Activities of the three mediating Governments, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States, centered on efforts to prevent further conflict and to secure the withdrawal of armed forces from territory into which they had advanced. Observers were sent by Argentina, Brazil, and the United States to the area of conflict. Correspondence on these aspects of the dispute not pertinent to the boundary settlement itself, is not here printed.]

  1. No. 167, July 8, 8 p.m., p. 231.↩