710 Consultation (4)/11–344: Telegram
The Chargé in Colombia (Daniels) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—3:40 a.m.]
1854. ReEmbstel 1852, November 3, 5 [4] p.m.20 I have just returned from Foreign Office where I discussed for nearly an hour with Minister of Foreign Affairs21 the nature of the assurances Colombian Government might give regarding Argentine proposal.
[Page 37]Dr. Echandía reiterated that Colombian position had already been expressed publicly on October 31.22 I pointed out that this expression of views could hardly be considered a reply to the Argentine proposal inasmuch as that proposal was not officially transmitted by the Pan American Union until the following day November 1, and suggested that before transmitting the Colombian reply to the Pan American Union it would seem entirely appropriate to receive the views of the other American Republics. However, Dr. Echandía was obviously reluctant to give any assurances which might be interpreted as making the Colombian reply dependent upon views expressed by other countries and indicated no desire to modify in any way the terms of the communiqué of October 31. After further discussion he drafted in my presence and has given me informally the following statement (in translation) of the Colombian position:
“We have already expressed our opinion favorable to the meeting of Foreign Ministers to study the Argentine case; we perceive no objection, but rather we would have much pleasure in hearing now the opinions of the other American countries before transmitting officially our opinion to the Pan American Union; but we understand that our views on the substance of the matter are already fixed, in agreement with Venezuela and Ecuador.”
While the qualifying clauses in the foregoing statement detract from the effectiveness of the assurances not to reply to the Pan American Union before hearing the views of other countries, I do not believe that stronger assurances can be obtained from Colombia at this time, and it is hoped that the foregoing will be adequate for the Department’s purposes.
Dr. Echandía stated specifically that the Colombian attitude in favoring a meeting of Foreign Ministers should not be interpreted as an indication of any sympathy with the policies followed by Argentina in recent months under present regime. On the contrary he said that Colombia had made its views regarding Argentina public last August 7 in the public statement issued jointly with Venezuela (redes 4197 August 9)23; and that the same statement expressed Colombia’s desire that continental solidarity be restored.
Repeated to Caracas and Quito.