724.3415/3981: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson)

96. Your 155 August 3, 6 p.m. The Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires communicated yesterday evening to the Department an inquiry similar to that addressed to you by the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Brazilian Chargé d’Affaires was advised of the deep appreciation of this Government for the attitude shown by the Brazilian Government in consulting with the Government of the United States and was further told that the views of this Government had already been made known both to the Argentine and Brazilian Governments in prior communications. In the opinion of this Government, Brazil and the United States have cooperated with Argentina in the interest of the advancement of peace between Bolivia and Paraguay by lending their strong moral support to the conciliation formula presented to the Bolivian Government by the Government of Argentina. We believe that for practical considerations it may be well to limit the nations cooperating with Argentina in the peace movement to Brazil and the United States until a definite agreement in principle on the bases of the conciliation formula has been obtained both from Bolivia and from Paraguay. We further believe, however, that as soon as such definite acceptance of principle has been obtained from both Governments, it would be highly advantageous to request the formal cooperation of the other American Republics referred to by Bolivia in her reply in presenting and supporting officially the conciliation formula to the two belligerent nations. It was our clear understanding that the Argentine Government coincided in this point of view as was made evident in conversations had with Dr. Saavedra Lamas by the American Ambassador at Buenos Aires, as well as in messages received by the Argentine Ambassador at Washington from his Government.

The following are the reasons for the opinion held by this Government in the matter:

1.
The influence of Chile in Bolivia is momentarily preponderant and unless Chile is invited to participate in the peace negotiations, it seems very probable that those negotiations may not be successful.
2.
It would be exceedingly difficult for the United States, in view of its failure to cooperate in the recent initiative of Colombia and [Page 165] Peru, to refrain from requesting those Governments to cooperate in this new peace move.
3.
Mexico, Uruguay, and Cuba, which formed part of the Commission of Neutrals at Washington, would necessarily resent the failure of this Government to invite them to participate in any new peace movement.
4.
This Government is decidedly of the opinion and has frequently so stated, that the furtherance of peace on the American Continent should be a matter of joint moral responsibility for all of the American Republics and does not believe that efforts in behalf of peace should be limited to any bloc or clique of American Republics. The latter procedure would be more likely to promote ill feeling than to further peace, particularly under present conditions. The precedent involved in this instance is one which this Government attributes the highest importance.
5.
Finally, it is well known by Argentina, Brazil, and the United States that Dr. Saavedra Lamas’ conciliation formula had been presented to Paraguay and had apparently received its full approval before it was presented to the Government of Bolivia. The only specific request upon which Bolivia has continued to insist since its reply was sent to Argentina is that the additional American Republics under reference be invited to participate in the mediation. If this request is not complied with, it would appear to be very difficult for Bolivia to agree to the peace formula.

For the reasons above set forth, this Government believes that if an agreement in principle between Paraguay and Bolivia can be obtained, the additional American Republics should be at once invited to participate in presenting the conciliation formula to both belligerents. There seems to be no reason for extending this invitation immediately, since we have no information leading us to believe that the final acquiescence in principle by Paraguay has as yet been obtained by the Argentine Government.

Hull