With reference to the third suggestion made by me that Brazil and
Colombia sign a convention by which the boundary between those
countries would be agreed to on the Apaporis-Tabatinga line, Brazil
agreeing to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia freedom of
navigation on the Amazon and other rivers common to both countries,
I have the honor to inform you that it is of course understood that
the signing of this convention will follow the ratification by
Colombia and Peru of the boundary treaty of March 24, 1922, between
them.
In this connection I have the honor to inform you that the Colombian
Minister has renewed to me the statement made in today’s meeting
that his Government will conclude the above treaty with Brazil
immediately after the ratification by Peru of the Colombian-Peruvian
boundary treaty.
A similar note is being sent by me to the Colombian Minister and to
the Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires.17
[Enclosure]
Procès-Verbal of a Meeting Between the
Secretary of State, the Permian Ambassador (Velarde), the Colombian
Minister (Olaya), and the Brazilian Chargé (Gracie), March 4,
1925
Doctor Hernán Velarde, Doctor Enrique Olaya, and Mr. Samuel de
Souza Leão Gracie, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Peru, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
Colombia, and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil,
respectively, having on the invitation of the Secretary of State
of the United States of America, met with him in his office at
the Department of State, Washington, at five o’clock on March 4,
1925.
Mr. Hughes stated that he had invited Messrs. Velarde, Olaya and
Gracie to his office to consider the boundary treaty between
Colombia and Peru signed in Lima March 24, 1922, in respect to
which observations of a friendly nature had been made to the
Peruvian Government by the Brazilian Government. Mr. Hughes
stated that the three Governments concerned had requested his
good offices in the settlement of this question and, after
carefully considering the matter, he desired to suggest as a
solution of the difficulty the following:
- First. The withdrawal by the Government of Brazil of
its observations regarding the boundary treaty between
Colombia and Peru;
- Second. The ratification by Colombia and Peru of the
above mentioned boundary treaty;
- Third. The signing of a convention between Brazil and
Colombia by which the boundary between those countries
would be agreed to on the Apaporis-Tabatinga line,
Brazil agreeing to establish in perpetuity in favor of
Colombia freedom of navigation on the Amazon and other
rivers common to both countries.
Mr. Gracie then stated that he was authorized by his Government
to accept the friendly suggestion which the Secretary of State
had just made and that in consequence he was instructed by his
Government to inform the Peruvian Ambassador that Brazil
withdraws its observations regarding the Colombian-Peruvian
treaty above mentioned on the understanding that Peru will make
as a condition in settling its boundary question with Colombia,
the recognition of the Apaporis-Tabatinga line as described by
the Treaty of 1851 and in consequence Brazilian dominion over
the territory to the east of that line. Mr. Gracie added that
should Colombia agree to recognize the above mentioned
Apaporis-Tabatinga line Brazil was ready to agree in the same
convention to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia
freedom of navigation on the River Amazon and other rivers
common to both countries.
Doctor Olaya then stated that he had instructions from his
Government to accept the friendly suggestion just made by the
Secretary of State. Doctor Olaya added that he was authorized to
state that on the condition that the treaty of March 24, 1922,
between Colombia and Peru, should be ratified by both
Governments the Government of Colombia would agree to conclude
immediately thereafter a treaty with Brazil recognizing as the
frontier between the two countries the village of Tabatinga, and
from that place to the north the direct line until it meets the
River Yapurá at its junction with the Apaporis, and in
consequence Brazilian dominion over the territory to the east of
that line, it being understood that Brazil in the same treaty
will agree to establish in perpetuity in favor of Colombia
freedom of navigation on the Amazon and other rivers common to
both countries.
Doctor Velarde then stated that he also was authorized by his
Government to express its acceptance of the friendly suggestion
which the Secretary of State had just made in the sense that his
Government would immediately advise the Peruvian Congress
thereof, repeating at the same time its recommendation that it
approve the boundary treaty with Colombia.
The Ambassador of Peru, the Minister of Colombia, and the Chargé
d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil then stated that they desired to
express the gratitude of their respective Governments for the
good offices of the Secretary of State exerted in such an
amicable manner in the interest of harmony between the three
interested Republics in
[Page 463]
order to adjust the questions considered in the meeting
recorded by this Procès Verbal.
This Procès Verbal of the meeting, drawn up in quadruplicate in
English, Spanish and Portuguese, was signed by the Secretary of
State of the United States of America, the Ambassador of Peru,
the Minister of Colombia, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
of Brazil. It is understood that in case of doubt the English
text will be binding. One copy in each language will be retained
for the files of the Department of State by the Secretary of
State, who will send of the remaining three copies, one each, in
each language, to the Ambassador of Peru, the Minister of
Colombia, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Brazil, for
their respective Governments.
- Charles E. Hughes
- Hernán Velarde
- Enrique Olaya
- Samuel de Souza Leão
Gracie
