723.00/11–2950: Telegram
The Ambassador in Peru ( Tittmann ) to the Secretary of State
287. Peruvian note1 to Colombian Embassy demanding surrender of Haya to Peruvian authority delivered and broadcast last night and published this morning. Copy airmailed Department today.
In conversation with Barber2 and myself this morning FonMin 3 stated he considered 5 or 6 days sufficient time to allow Colombia reply to note and if reply not forthcoming by then Peru will either send additional note or take action (unspecified) without further delay, he would not say which. FonMin appeared adamant and refused even to consider any solution other than surrender of Haya. He hoped this firm attitude would not lead to trouble with Colombia but if it did Peru was ready to take consequences. He felt confident however that once Haya was safely in Peruvian prison tension over dispute would relax.
Answering Department’s question4 possible face-saving compromise Haya’s trial in absentia while remaining in Colombian Embassy not feasible under Peruvian criminal procedure as he must appear in court in person. In view present temper of government and ruling class Embassy feels intervention on our part in any form would be futile and only serve to anger and harden government even more. Suggestion of formula to mitigate Haya’s lot would most certainly be regarded by government as taking sides with Colombia against Peru and as attempt to thwart decision Hague Court. Department may wish consider that Peru would probably resent and discount offers of good offices by Guatemala and Uruguay as leftist motivated. If Department feels Haya should not be surrendered we believe only country with even faint chance of success in tendering good offices as far as Peru is concerned is Argentina because of special relations here. We might appeal to Perón suggesting he assume leadership in settling inter-American dispute by persuading Peru make magnanimous gesture.
Colombian Chargé told me last night he had informed his government of danger Peru breaking relations.
Gallagher mentioned it his opinion political factors were influencing Colombian Government’s stand. Colombian President and FonMin 5 personally ready he thought to surrender Haya but Liberal [Page 998] party pressure and angry attitude of Zuleta Angel6 and his Conservative party group connected with Colombia’s defeat Hague Court who have reputations to maintain made this impossible (see Bogotá’s 388 to Department).7
Sent Department 287 repeated Bogotá unnumbered.
- Not printed.↩
- Willard F. Barber, Counselor of Embassy in Lima from October 30, 1950.↩
- Manuel Gallagher.↩
- See footnote 3 to the memorandum of November 24, 1950, from Mr. Mann to Mr. Krieg, p. 995.↩
- Laureano Gómez and Gonzálo Restrepo Jaramillo, respectively.↩
- Eduardo Zuleta Angel, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States.↩
- Of November 28, not printed.↩