724.3415/4306a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson)

163. The Minister of Bolivia has informed the Department today by instruction of his Government that the Bolivian Minister in Rio de Janeiro has been instructed to inform the Brazilian Government of the desire of Bolivia to participate in the suggested conversations to be held with the Minister of Paraguay in Rio de Janeiro with the assistance of the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs and yourself and the Argentine Ambassador, provided the latter is permitted to do so by his own Government.

The Bolivian Minister further states that the Argentine Minister in La Paz requested an audience with President Salamanca 2 days ago in the course of which the former stated that the Argentine Government desired to know whether the Bolivian Government was disposed once more to consider peace proposals which the Argentine Government was prepared to make to Paraguay and to Bolivia. During this conversation no mention whatever was made of Brazil or the United States. The Bolivian President replied that the Bolivian Government was now as always prepared to consider any peace proposals that might be suggested to it.

Please cable the Department whether the Bolivian Minister in Rio de Janeiro has as yet complied with the instructions referred to in the first paragraph and if so, what the present disposition of the Brazilian Government may be.

Phillips