721.2315/1392/5
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Colombian Minister (Olaya), December 4, 1924
Mr. Hughes stated that he had examined the memorandum which had been handed to him by the Colombian Minister on November 26, 1924,83 and the supplementary memorandum of November 28, 1924, and that he had given careful attention to the matters presented therein; that he would be glad to see an amicable solution of this boundary problem and that while the United States Government did not desire to intervene in the matter he was disposed to offer such friendly advice as might tend to expedite a settlement of the question.
Mr. Hughes said that he had noted from Doctor Olaya’s memoranda and from other available information on the subject that the pending treaty between Peru and Colombia, signed in 1922, provided for the cession by Peru to Colombia of certain territory to the west of the line agreed upon by Peru and Brazil in their Treaty of 1851 as the boundary between the two countries. Mr. Hughes suggested that it might be a practicable solution of the present difficulty if Colombia should agree to recognize the line specified in the Treaty of 1851 between Peru and Brazil as the boundary between Colombia and Brazil, in the event that the latter should withdraw its objections to the Peruvian-Colombian Treaty of 1922 and the latter Treaty should be ratified by Peru.
Mr. Hughes added that he was prompted to make this suggestion in view of the fact that he understood that line had already been accepted by the Executive branch of the Colombian Government in the unratified treaty signed with Brazil at Bogotá July 25, 1853.
In conclusion Mr. Hughes stated that he would be pleased to communicate this proposal informally to the Government of Brazil, should he be advised that it would be acceptable to the Colombian Government.
- Not printed.↩