721.23/1355: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 7—9:50 a.m.]
140. Peruvian-Colombian dispute. Drummond tells me that Peruvians are making a difficulty on the formula. They are insisting (1)—that the troops in the territory in dispute, during the period of negotiation, shall be “international” and not Colombian and (2)—they are urging arbitration. The members of the Council feel in regard to point (1) that the Peruvians have no right to insist that Colombia shall not occupy what is admittedly legally Colombian territory and regarding (2) that the Peruvians have no right to insist that Colombia should arbitrate a claim in which they have clear treaty right.
A Council meeting is summoned for tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) at which authority will be requested by the Committee of Three to proceed to formulate a draft report under paragraph 4 of article number 15 of the Covenant. The report can not be ready before Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and in the meantime the offer to the two parties remains open although Drummond is sceptical as to Peru’s coming to an agreement.
In strict confidence Drummond pointed out that he hoped that the matter would not stop merely with the adoption of a report under paragraph 4 of article 15. This is a clear-cut issue on which all states agree as to the violator. He is doubtful himself of the advisability of breaking diplomatic relations since he recognizes the danger and even disaster that this might bring to foreign interests in Peru. He does believe however, that an arms embargo could be applied against Peru followed perhaps by other forms of embargo.
[Page 496]Carrying out his confidential exposé Drummond said that in the report they were contemplating establishing another advisory committee on this problem somewhat similar to the one provided for in the Manchurian question which would comprise members of the Council to which they were anxious to invite representatives of Brazil and the United States. He raised the question of whether such an invitation would be an embarrassment to us in view of the fact that we had not yet accepted on the Manchurian question.38 I stated that I thought an invitation at this moment to appoint an American a member of the committee might cause you embarrassment and raised the possibility of an invitation being issued to “cooperate in any manner in which the Government of the United States might see fit”. This would obviously leave you free to take your choice as to the form of cooperation.
- See telegram No. 86, March 11, 1933, 8 p.m., to the Minister in Switzerland, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 117.↩