363/2–951
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Edgar L. McGinnis, Jr., of the Office of South American Affairs
Subject: Possible Discussion of Asylum at Forthcoming IAM
| Participants: | Ambassador Berckemeyer1—Peruvian Embassy |
| Ambassador Warren—OSA | |
| Mr. McGinnis—OSA |
Ambassador Berckemeyer called upon Ambassador Warren today at his own request. The Peruvian Ambassador stated that his Government was greatly concerned over the Guatemalan proposal at the COAS meeting recently to reaffirm the right of asylum. He said that his Government strongly opposed the introduction of this subject as extraneous to the general purposes of the IAM. Furthermore, he considered the proposal as a disguised attempt to bring the Haya case before the OAS. Ambassador Berckemeyer asked what the Department’s views were on this proposal.
The Peruvian Ambassador was told that we did not favor the inclusion in the agenda of the Conference any matters not relevant to the emergent problems which the meeting has been called to consider. Ambassador Warren added that he was doubtful whether the Guatemalan proposal would have any more success than that Government’s previous endeavor to bring the Haya case before the OAS.2 Ambassador Berckemeyer was also told that we continue to believe that it would be inappropriate to discuss the Haya case while the matter is under consideration by the International Court of Justice.
Before departing, Ambassador Berckemeyer stated that it would be very “difficult” for Peru to participate in the IAM if the Haya case were to be discussed either directly or indirectly.