724.3415/1915: Telegram
The Commission of Neutrals to the Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Gutiérrez)
The representatives at Washington of the neutral nations acknowledge the receipt of the cablegram from the Minister of Foreign Relations of Bolivia in reply to their cablegrams of July 29 and 30. They regret to note that Bolivia is not interested in investigations of the recent occurrences, and will not give orders to her troops not to commit hostile acts in the Chaco. Bolivia states that she is not interested in investigations which do not define* the fundamental question. The neutrals established no connection between the investigation of the present conflicts in the Chaco and a definitive settlement, being of the opinion that the first step necessary is to clear up the present misunderstanding and take measures to prevent further clashes, while the question is being definitively settled. They cherish the hope that the declaration of Bolivia expresses the desire for a final solution of the controversy.
It seems unnecessary to recall once more the efforts made by the representatives of the neutrals since December, 1928,46 to reach a definitive solution.
The representatives of the neutrals, encouraged by those declarations, and in order that they may be certain that they understand Your Excellency correctly in this matter, request the Government of Bolivia to send them as soon as possible a declaration as to whether it agrees (1) to a suspension of hostilities on the basis of the possessions maintained by Bolivia and Paraguay on June 1, 1932, and (2) to enter immediately thereafter into negotiations with Paraguay for the submission of this controversy at once to settlement by arbitration or by other amicable means which may be acceptable to both.
If the representatives of the neutrals have correctly understood [Page 52] the Government of Bolivia, which they trust they have, they would immediately make the same proposals to the Government of Paraguay.
For the Secretary of State of the United States
Minister of Colombia
Chargé d’Affaires of Uruguay
Chargé d’Affaires of Cuba
Chargé d’Affaires of Mexico
- Translator’s Note: The word in the third sentence which has been translated above as “define” (definan) can mean either “define” or “decide”. The former is the primary meaning. [Footnote in the file translation.]↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, pp. 685 ff.↩