710. Consultation 4/7–747
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Special Inter-American Affairs (Dreier)
| Participants: | Ambassador Antonio Rocha—Chairman of the Governing Board, Pan American Union |
| Dr. Alberto Lleras Camargo—Director General, Pan American Union | |
| Messrs. Briggs, Wright,27 Dawson, Dreier. |
Mr. Briggs expressed his appreciation for the willingness of Ambassador Rocha and Dr. Lleras to come to his office, explaining that he thought it would be desirable to plan in advance how to handle the [Page 14] question of Nicaraguan participation in the Rio Conference, which the Brazilian Government had now placed in the hands of the Governing Board and would probably come up at the next meeting. Mr. Briggs expressed the hope that the matter could be settled without provoking long and fruitless debate in the Governing Board.
Various aspects of the Brazilian note, as reported in the press, were discussed. It was generally agreed that the best thing would be for the Governing Board to propose to the various governments, through the representatives on the Board, some questions concerning Nicaraguan participation, the answers to which would settle the issue. At the same time, however, the Brazilian note should be transmitted by the Union to the other governments.
Ambassador Rocha first suggested that a theoretical question be posed on whether at inter-American conferences all American republics should be represented, to be followed by a specific question namely, which faction should be invited to represent Nicaragua.
Further discussion led to the desirability of approaching the subject entirely on a theoretical basis and it was finally agreed, largely on the initiative of Dr. Lleras, that the questions should be framed as follows:
What procedures should be followed in regard to invitations to inter-American conferences when:
- 1.
- a government of one republic is not recognized by any other republics?;
- 2.
- a government of one republic is recognized by a minority of the other republics?;
- 3.
- a government of one republic is recognized by a majority of the other republics but not by the host government?
It was indicated by Dr. Lleras and Ambassador Rocha that the answers to these questions should provide a formula with which the present Nicaraguan case could be settled.
Those present agreed to talk with various members of the Governing Board before the meeting on Wednesday, July 9, in order to get general agreement to approach the subject on a basis of principle as outlined above.
- James H. Wright, Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of State Braden.↩