724.3415/3915: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell)
64. Your No. 100, July 13, 10 p.m.98 The Argentine Ambassador yesterday handed the Department the copy of the conciliation formula. He was this morning informed as follows:
This Government is now as always disposed to exert every effort to promote a peaceful solution of the Chaco dispute and to cooperate with the Argentine Government towards that end provided such cooperation is agreeable to the two nations at war and provided further that such a move appears to hold the promise of success. Predicated upon the assumption that the formula of Dr. Saavedra Lamas would be accepted unequivocally by Paraguay in accordance with the assurances given by the Argentine Foreign Minister, the Government of the United States will be glad to cooperate with the Argentine Government in support of this formula and to urge acceptance by the Government of Bolivia in the belief that the Government of Brazil will likewise cooperate in the same manner.
The Argentine Ambassador has further been told to inform Dr. Saavedra Lamas that this Government has immediately cabled the American Ambassador in Rio de Janeiro to express the earnest hope of this Government that Brazil will cooperate in the manner indicated and has made similar representations to the Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires.
If the reply received from the Brazilian Government is satisfactory, we would then be prepared to make the most earnest recommendation to the Bolivian Government that the proposed formula be accepted by Bolivia.
We have also indicated to the Argentine Ambassador that it is our most sincere belief that if a confidential acceptance in principle of the formula can be obtained as the result of the good offices of Argentina, Brazil, and the United States, Peru and Colombia and the other republics of this continent should immediately be invited to join in presenting the formula to Bolivia and Paraguay for their official acceptance. We have emphasized our belief that the question [Page 145] of promoting peace on the continent is one of continental responsibility and that the action thus proposed would create a very highly important and useful precedent.
For your personal and confidential information, you will realize that the practical hope of success depends upon the unequivocal acceptance by Paraguay and to a large extent upon the participation at this time by Brazil in the joint representations to be made to Bolivia. It is further obvious that the chances of success would be greatly prejudiced if there is any publicity given to the present move.
- Not printed.↩