724.3415/4166
The Secretary of
State to the Minister in El Salvador (Corrigan)
No. 34
Washington, October 5, 1934.
Sir: There is transmitted herewith for your
information a translation of a communication dated September 12,
1934, from the Foreign Minister of El Salvador for the
Secretary.47
A reply to Señor Araujo’s note is likewise transmitted herewith,
which you are directed to deliver personally to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs. At the same time, you will please say to the
Minister that in view of the negotiations which on the initiative of
the Argentine Government have been taking place in Buenos Aires, and
in view of the activities of the League of Nations regarding the
Chaco question, it is possible that he may wish to consider whether
any further specific peace initiative at the present time might not
tend to confuse the various proposals and possibly prevent any of
them from prospering.
Very truly yours.
For the Secretary of State:
Sumner Welles
[Enclosure]
The Secretary of
State to the Salvadoran Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Araujo)
Washington, October 5,
1934.
Excellency: I thank Your Excellency
sincerely for your communication of September 12, 1934, in
furtherance of the earnest interest which both our Governments
have in the prompt termination of the hostilities which
unfortunately exist between Bolivia and Paraguay.
I fully share your deep regret at the continuation of this tragic
struggle, and have read with great interest your suggestion that
the nations represented at Washington, in agreement with the Pan
American Union and in the name of all the American Governments,
propose as soon as possible to the Governments of Paraguay and
Bolivia, on the bases that they may consider suitable, the
acceptance of an armistice for a minimum period of a year, or
for such time as may be considered sufficient, for those
countries to study a just and friendly solution of their
differences.
As you will recollect, the nations represented at the Montevideo
Conference in December, 1933, bent every effort to obtain the
consent of the Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay to an
extended armistice for the purpose of allowing those Governments
to compose their difference. Unfortunately, although the
armistice was accepted, its duration was not sufficient to
permit a solution of the basic problem or to prevent the
resumption of hostilities.
I am glad to inform you in response to your proposal that, as
this Government has repeatedly stated in the past, it will
always be ready to support any initiative looking towards peace
on this continent, provided the participation of the United
States in such initiative prove agreeable to the belligerent
nations, and further provided that such initiative in the
judgment of this Government give promise of success.
Accept [etc.]
