721.2315/260
The Ambassador in Peru (Poindexter) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16.]
Sir:
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… I called at the Palace on November 23d, according to appointment, and expressed to President Leguía the gratification of the United States Government at the favorable action which had been taken by the Congress of Colombia in the ratification of the Boundary Treaty and suggested to the President that it would likewise be a source of gratification to my Government if like favorable action should be taken by the Peruvian Congress, especially in view of the active share which the former Secretary of State had, at the request of the three interested governments, in the formulation and agreement to the Procès Verbal which had been celebrated by Brazil, Colombia, [Page 470] and Perú on the 4th of March, 1925, and on account of the deep interest which the United States, as a friendly American power, feels in the solution of questions which give rise to controversies and disagreements between its neighboring American Republics. President Leguía informed me that he had just had a conversation with Señor Mariategui, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and Señor Piedra, the President of the Senate, on this subject, and that he was advised by them that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to secure the favorable action of the Peruvian Congress on the treaty until the Tacna-Arica Plebiscite had been disposed of. However, the President stated to me that in view of the representation which I had just made and of the friendly and neutral interest of the American Government in the matter, he would see the presiding officer of each House of Congress again, and that he would bring whatever pressure to bear he was able to, looking towards favorable action by Congress upon the treaty. He stated, however, that he was far from convinced that it was feasible to secure such favorable action at this time. I expressed to the President my appreciation of his offer to bring the matter forward and took the liberty of suggesting to him that in my personal opinion the ratification of the treaty by Perú, thus settling in one act long-standing subjects of controversy with two of her neighboring nations,—namely; Brazil and Colombia,—would create a very widespread favorable impression throughout America as an indication of the substantial progress which Perú would be making in the adjustment of the questions of dispute which she had pending with the neighboring republics. President Leguía thanked me for my frank expression and assured me that he was heartily in favor of the ratification of the treaty and would proceed to secure it at the earliest practicable moment.
Thereafter Señor Focion Mariategui, who is also the leader of the Government party as well as the Presiding Officer of the Chamber of Deputies, called at the Embassy by appointment on November 25th, and advised me that the President had consulted with him subsequent to my interview with the President on the subject referred to. Señor Mariategui, however, expressed the opinion that while the sentiment of Congress was growing more favorable to the Colombian Boundary Treaty, yet if it were presented for action at this time, a bitter debate would be precipitated and that he had grave doubts of the success of such a motion. He stated that he believed that in view of the increasing strength of the Leguía Government and of the favorable developments in the Tacna-Arica plebiscite which had been sponsored by President Leguía, sentiment would continue to grow still more favorable with reference to the treaty and [Page 471] that later on when the Plebiscite had made further progress or had been disposed of, favorable action could be obtained.
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I have [etc.]