840.50/2354: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6 p.m.]
1371. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. My 1354, August 6, 6 p.m. Turbay informed me this morning that a reply has now been received from Chile which is far more satisfactory than had been anticipated by the Colombian Government. Turbay said that Chile accepts wholeheartedly points 1 and 2. As to point 3 Chile was noncommittal, but as Colombian Government considers that it is essential that the two first points should be clarified before the discussion of point 3 Chile’s reply is eminently satisfactory.
A further reply has been received from the Uruguayan Government following reference of the matter to the President of Uruguay.12 Turbay said that either the Colombian Minister at Montevideo13 had not understood instructions or had badly expressed himself to the Uruguayan Government, and consequently Turbay is calling in today Uruguayan Minister here14 to clarify the Colombian position. (Colombian Minister at Montevideo who is also accredited to Paraguay left for Asunción August 9 to approach Paraguayan Government. For this reason no answer has yet been received from Paraguay.) Turbay said that Uruguay has answered the Colombian proposal, which contained three distinct steps, as though it were merely one general question. Uruguay expressed the opinion that it would be inadvisable at this time, when it is clear that the Allied nations are winning the war, to make a flat declaration of war which would be badly interpreted in certain quarters. Turbay emphasized to me that no intimation had been made regarding a declaration of war, and that it was made clear in the instructions to each Colombian representative that if the various Governments should agree on points 1 and 2 a discussion would then be had in Washington as to what further steps might be taken to bring about a closer unification of the continent.
Turbay said that he had also instructed Ambassador Lleras to deliver to the Department a copy of the memorandum which had been [Page 46] telegraphically transmitted to those Governments which Colombia had approached in this matter and that he will shortly deliver to me a copy.
Turbay said that he had also instructed Lleras to inform the Under Secretary that the Colombian diplomatic move owes its origin to the message sent by Mr. Welles to President López on the occasion of the latter’s address of welcome to President Peñaranda15 (see Department’s telegram 737, June 10, 1 p.m.16). Turbay said that Mr. Welles’ message had so encouraged President López that he in turn communicated the text of his17 remarks to each of the Foreign Offices of the Governments which are in the same juridical status as Colombia.
- Juan José Amézaga.↩
- Raimundo Rivas.↩
- Alfredo de Castro.↩
- Enrique Peñaranda, President of Bolivia.↩
- Not printed; in it the Under Secretary expressed his agreement with and commendation of President López’ appraisal of the Argentine situation and the need for continental unity (740.0011 European War 1939/29741).↩
- i.e., President López.↩