710. Consultation 3/587
The Chargé in Bolivia (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 5.]
Sir: With reference to the third paragraph of my telegram No. 41 of January 27, 3 p.m., in which it was stated that the Bolivian Government had received a note from the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires ad interim threatening Bolivia if diplomatic relations should be broken off, I have the honor to report that this note was read to me by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in the presence of the President on January 27.
The note, couched in execrable Spanish, partook of the nature of an ultimatum. It started out by referring to the “glorious Japanese victories” and the forthcoming consolidation of the “Greater East Asia Sphere of Co-Prosperity”, said that Japan expected to renew its commercial relations with the countries of Latin America “even before the termination of the War”, remarked that the United States had promised to buy Latin American surplus raw products and to [Page 518] furnish its countries with needed finished materials but would be unable to do so because of its critical economic position, added that Japan had no designs upon Latin America, commented upon the fact that “certain discussions are going on at Rio de Janeiro”, stated that “the countries of South America do not appear to take a breach of relations seriously” but that Japan does as a step toward which would lead inevitably to War “with grave prejudice to those foolhardy enough to take the step” and warned Bolivia that, if it should break off relations, the consequences would be its own responsibility.
The Peruvian Minister to Bolivia12 has informed me that he has been advised that his Government had received an “impertinent” note from the Japanese Minister in Lima warning it of the consequences of a breach of relations. It would thus appear that the note delivered in La Paz was a circular sent from the Japanese Foreign Office to its missions in South America or the local Chargé d’Affaires’ interpretation of general instructions.
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs told me today that neither the Italian Minister nor the German Chargé d’Affaires ad interim had made any representations to the Bolivian authorities in regard to a possible breach of relations, either by note or orally, as reported in my despatch No. 1640 of January 29, 1942,13 mild representations in this sense have, however, been made by the Papal Nuncio.
Respectfully yours,