724.3415/4180: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
242. Department’s 133, September 21, 6 p.m. Minister for Foreign Affairs states that since the outset it has been the Brazilian view that (1) the conference should be held at Buenos Aires and (2) that the nine powers should be invited to participate; (3) that it was at the request of Argentina, in which we acquiesced, that Brazil consented to preliminary mediation by the three powers, but always with the idea that definite conciliation negotiations would be carried out by the nine at Buenos Aires.
The Brazilian Government is therefore in complete accord with your present view as to procedure.
[Page 221]It is understood, of course, that the foregoing is contingent upon postponement or abandonment of League action. However, in the meantime the Foreign Office is telegraphing the Brazilian Ambassador in Buenos Aires stating that it is in full agreement with the American Government as to the course outlined in your 133, and directing him to consult and act in concert with his American colleague.
Foreign Office further proposes, if you see no objection, that the Brazilian and American Ambassadors in Buenos Aires be directed to call on Lamas and say to him that our two countries came into this mediation at his request and have sought to support his efforts effectively; that we now feel certain misgivings as to the best course because of our uncertainty as to what the League is going to do; that we would therefore appreciate a definite statement from him as to whether (1) he proposes to secure postponement of League action and continue tripartite mediation, whether he proposes to turn question over to the League, that in the former case we should be glad to continue cooperating with him and we make the definite proposal that the conference of nine be convened at Buenos Aires; in the second case, that we are reluctant to do anything that might be construed as competition with the League and that we will therefore withdraw from the picture temporarily at least.
Foreign Office feels that unless we take this course we may risk becoming involved in unpleasant complications.