724.3415/4055: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)
103. The Department has received a cable from the American Consul in Geneva reporting an interview on August 27th with the Secretary General of the League of Nations, in which the latter brought up the Chaco question. Avenol stated that Bolivia’s appeal to the Assembly under Article 15 required, under the 6 months’ provision, a definitive report in November which would declare either that (a) the terms of a settlement were quite impracticable, or (b) that no settlement had been reached. Avenol added that in his opinion, the [Page 73] best way to meet the present exigency was by the appointment by the forthcoming Assembly of a small committee to be composed of the present Council committee of three, namely, Mexico, Spain, and Czechoslovakia; of the League bordering states, Argentina, Chile, and Peru; and if possible, of the United States and Brazil, the competence of such Committee to expire in November.
Please bring the above immediately to the attention of Dr. Saavedra Lamas and state that it is, of course, impossible for the United States to form part of such a Committee and that inasmuch as neither the United States nor Brazil are members of the League of Nations and since Argentina is both a member and represented on the Council, it would seem appropriate that Dr. Saavedra Lamas himself discuss the present situation frankly with the Secretary General. In the opinion of this Government, the recent negotiations for a settlement of the Chaco dispute under the auspices of Argentina, Brazil, and the United States have now reached the point where a successful outcome in the near future is hoped for, and it would seem exceedingly regrettable to prejudice the probability of success by any confusion which might arise as the result of active negotiations being now undertaken by the League Committee in addition to the negotiations already in progress. It would further appear to be expedient to point out to the Secretary General and the Council of the League that during the course of the past year, the problem of finding a solution has been under the jurisdiction of the League, and that the American Republics, including the United States, have cooperated with and supported the endeavors of the League Committee, notably at the time of the holding of the Montevideo Conference; that the objective sought in the present negotiations is the same as that sought by the League and that it would appear to be in the interest of the League itself to await so far as may be possible under the Covenant the outcome of the present negotiations before undertaking any further active participation in the settlement of the dispute. You may state that the views of this Government are being informally communicated to the Secretary General of the League.
Please cable the Department the views which Dr. Saavedra Lamas may express.