710. Consultation 3/503: Telegram
The Chargé in Bolivia (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 28—3:50 a.m.]
41. My January 26, 8 p.m.8 President assured me today that indication in telegram from Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to Anze that its three points were prerequisite to breaking off relations with Axis Powers was result of hasty drafting; that points were merely outline of economic and defense aid which it was hoped the United States would be able to give Bolivia in due course.
The President stated categorically that decree breaking off relations would be issued in 2 or 3 days at the latest and that delay was due solely to necessity for first taking steps to protect mines and other strategic points and to deal with dangerous Axis nationals. In support of this he mentioned minor sabotage which has been attempted in last few days.
The President also showed great perturbation over vulnerability of Bolivian mines to attack by carrier-based Japanese aircraft having received note from Japanese Chargé d’Affaires making threats if relations are broken.
He asked me to ascertain whether it would be possible to secure temporary stationing in Bolivia of at least a flight of United States Army pursuit planes pending the arrival of planes and anti-aircraft artillery which Bolivia has requested under Lend-Lease.9 He stressed that this should not be taken as offering of air bases and that actual use of planes for patrol and other purposes would be by agreement between their commander and Bolivian military authorities. He added that he was not now making a request for such planes but would make it if they were available and details would be arranged.
If planes could be made available from Canal Zone or elsewhere I believe it would have very beneficial effect. Their presence would bolster morale of weak Bolivian Government and people and might have salutary influence on Chile and Argentina. Undoubtedly some [Page 517] means of considering planes and personnel as part of military aviation mission10 could be worked out if thought desirable.
My impression from conversations yesterday and today is that Bolivians hoped to get definite commitments from us on three points before breaking off relations but that they have abandoned this in fear that economic cooperation will be endangered if they delay breach, having gotten this idea from telegrams from Anze and Zulme.
They are, however, honestly panicky about sabotage and possibility of attack. That they have been warned of possibility of sabotage continually since December 7 by Legation and have taken no action until faced by necessity for breaking off relations is beside the point. What is essential now is to calm them and help them organize to deal with possible danger.
In addition to arrangements if possible for sending of United States Army Air Corps detachment recommend strongly that an experienced field officer of Air Corps be sent immediately to head aviation mission (present chief is in Panama on sick leave and will probably not return) …
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary of important points above sent to Under Secretary at Rio de Janeiro as my January 27, 3 p.m.
- Supra.↩
- For correspondence on Lend-Lease negotiations between Bolivia and the United States, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, section under Bolivia entitled “Negotiation of a Lend-Lease Agreement with Bolivia, signed December 6, 1941.”↩
- For correspondence, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, section under Bolivia entitled “Agreement between the United States and Bolivia for a military aviation mission …”↩