724.3415/247: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:30 p.m.]
93. Your telegram No. 62, December 9, 6 p.m. President Irigoyen just told me that recently, before the present Bolivia-Paraguay incident occurred, he had offered his services as friendly adjuster, but not as arbitrator, of the differences between Bolivia and Paraguay. President Irigoyen said that Paraguay immediately accepted his offer, frankly and unreservedly, but that Bolivia, while expressing its appreciation for the friendly and timely offer, referred to the suspended meetings of the representatives of the two countries previously held at Buenos Aires, which Bolivia considered were still open to continuation. President Irigoyen said that he had since made no further move, but had held himself ready to act as a friendly adviser in reaching a solution of the problem if Bolivia and Paraguay so desired.
I gathered that President Irigoyen would not desire the Government of the United States to advise either party to accept his offer. I therefore counsel that if you take any action, it be along the lines of urging the Governments of both countries to find a way of settling their differences amicably.
Foreign Minister read to me two telegrams from the Minister of Argentina in Bolivia which reported a very tense situation in Bolivia, with serious possibilities of war; that Bolivia had received from Chile an assurance of neutrality in case of war, and that Chile had offered her good offices as mediator.
The Foreign Minister also told me that he had been informed that the Government of Chile intended to address identic notes to the Governments of Argentina and Brazil stating that it considered Bolivia to be the aggressor.