721.23/1535: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—4:12 p.m.]
163. The Advisory Committee on Leticia was convened this afternoon to consider a communication from the representative of Peru addressed to the President of the Advisory Committee under date of March 30.
This communication informed the Committee under instructions from the Peruvian Government of the capture on March 27 by Colombian [Page 512] forces of the outer Putumayo Peruvian post Güepi. After several paragraphs of attack on Colombia the Peruvian note concluded with expressing the hope that the Committee would proceed to an examination of the new situation which the Colombian aggression had created and would establish that all advance by Colombian forces on Peruvian territory, that all attempts to reestablish Colombian authority in Leticia, henceforth constitute an act of war against Peru.
There was a long, rambling and rather inconclusive discussion, during which the Peruvian and Colombian representatives were questioned regarding details of the Güepi incident and co-related matters. The Committee then adjourned to permit the Secretariat to draft a reply to Peru which will be considered at a meeting tomorrow afternoon.
We took no part in the discussion.