724.3415/4242: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson)
151. Your 268, October 8,4 p.m.47a For some time past the Department has believed that the Chilean Foreign Office has felt increasing resentment because of the supposed exclusion of Chile from the mediation negotiations dealing with the Chaco problem. Throughout the course of the negotiations the Department has impressed upon the Chilean [Page 223] Embassy here the fact that both this Government and Brazil had insisted that if and when some concrete basis for agreement between Bolivia and Paraguay were reached the other members of the original group of nine should immediately be called in to join in the mediation and that as soon as practicable thereafter all of the republics of the continent should be invited to lend their active and moral support to further the cause of peace in the Chaco. Upon receipt of the message from the Chilean Foreign Minister referred to in your cable, the Chilean Ambassador here was reminded of these facts. He was also reminded of the consistently cooperative attitude demonstrated by this Government towards Chile, notably when the incident between Chile and Paraguay arose, and he was further informed that every suggestion made by Chile had received the fullest and most friendly consideration and that while the Department regretted that it could not accede to the suggestion offered by the Chilean Government that the United States accept membership in the League subcommittee, it had, nevertheless, explained in considerable detail how it was disposed to cooperate with such a committee should conditions in the judgment of the United States make such cooperation feasible and of practical value. The Chilean Ambassador in Washington appeared to take a completely reasonable and understanding attitude and promised to transmit the views expressed by cable to Cruchaga and to add that this Government would gladly welcome any expression of opinion from Cruchaga concerning the present situation and the manner in which the friendly assistance of the United States might continue to be rendered to promote an early settlement of the Chaco situation.
In view of the erroneous press statements recently published, it is obviously undesirable for the United States to take any initiative in the matter at this time. It seems to be clear that neither Paraguay nor Bolivia have any hope of obtaining effective action in Geneva and are once more looking to this continent for assistance in reaching an agreement. The views of the Paraguayan Government have already been made completely clear in communications received from Asunción and the Bolivian Minister in Washington yesterday inquired by instruction of his Government what the mediating nations now proposed to do. He further stated that his Government would gladly welcome a renewal of the efforts to promote peace on the part of the American nations. He emphasized in particular the view of the Bolivian Government that the mediation negotiations had never terminated and that a continuation of such negotiations was not incompatible with the activities of the League.
The Department would be glad to have you discuss the situation very frankly with the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs and explain why the United States does not desire at this time to take the lead in [Page 224] any possible resumption of mediation negotiations, although should conditions so develop that Brazil and Argentina believe that the time is propitious for inviting the remaining members of the nine powers to join in resuming mediation efforts through a conciliation conference, this Government will be glad to lend its assistance and active cooperation to such end.
The Brazilian Government has been in complete accord with the United States from the commencement of these negotiations in endeavoring to prevent the creation of the belief that the two Governments were assisting the creation of a bloc on this continent. It is for that reason, particularly in view of Cruchaga’s comments in this regard, that it is desirable not to renew mediation negotiations without the cordial participation and cooperation of the other members of the original group of nine. There further seems to be growing on the part of certain of the smaller republics of the continent the belief that they are being disregarded in these peace movements. It is therefore equally desirable that steps be taken in the event that negotiations are resumed to dissipate this feeling in every appropriate manner at the opportune time.
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