724.3415/4408: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 p.m.]
336. Department’s 181, December 6, 6 p.m. In communicating your instruction to the Foreign Minister, he stated that he now had a definite reply from Bolivia accepting his proposals that she cease hostilities immediately in return for Brazilian participation in the League peace proposals. This had just been communicated to him orally by the Bolivian Minister who, upon his request, was to give it to him in written official form later this afternoon.
The Foreign Minister felt that under the circumstances he would have to keep the matter under further consideration.
He thought that with this Bolivian acceptance in hand he could now force Paraguay into an acceptance of his proposals.
I thereupon emphasized the point contained in the penultimate sentence of the Department’s telegram under reference and said that I hoped that even if Paraguay did not accept his proposal but did accept the League recommendations that Brazil would be prepared to participate. The Foreign Minister replied that it seemed clear to him that if Paraguay refused his proposal it would be only because she intended to refuse the League recommendations. I again observed, as I had done in previous conversations, that there seemed to be a clear distinction between the two and once more pressed the point. The Minister then said that if Paraguay did not reply to his proposal within about a week he would inform her of his intention to accept the League’s invitation in terms similar to those of the American answers with the exception of giving full powers to the Brazilian member of the Neutral Supervisory Commission and adding that in an humanitarian effort he had attempted to obtain the immediate cessation of hostilities and that while Bolivia had acceded to his request Paraguay had refused to accept. He hoped this would constitute sufficient pressure to bring Paraguay into line.