724.3415/514: Telegram
The Chargé in Bolivia (Martin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3 p.m.]
41. Department’s 22, May 6, 7 p.m. No publicity given to reported attack until last night when chief of police of La Paz sent a small detachment of troops to guard Chilean Legation against which a demonstration was organized but not carried out. Official version published this morning coincides with report quoted in Department’s telegram except that no mention is made of capture of Paraguayan patrol. Several of my colleagues and an official of the Foreign Office with whom I talked last night are inclined to make light of the matter.
El Diario of this morning carries an editorial in which a statement is made that the Paraguayan patrol was not justified in approaching the zone of Fort Vanguardia and that the Bolivian detachment “could not receive the Paraguayans in any other manner than they actually did.”
[Paraphrase.] While it is very difficult to secure information on which to base an opinion, my belief is that only a few shots were exchanged, that there was no bloodshed, and that the charge that the [Page 847] Paraguayan patrol was the aggressor should be carefully examined. [End paraphrase.]