725.34/21: Telegram
The Minister in Paraguay (Nicholson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:25 p.m.]
34. Department’s telegram No. 26, July 20, 2 p.m., and my telegram No. 32, July 24, 11 a.m. The Chilean Minister called on me last evening to discuss the exchange of notes between the Governments [of] Paraguay and Chile. He has received by cable from the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs the text of a note which he is instructed to deliver to the Paraguayan Government. This note has not yet been presented due to the errors in the cable text which the Chilean Minister is verifying. He also was instructed to inform me, and the Ministers of Argentina, Brazil and Peru concerning the text of the recent exchange of notes between the Chilean Legation and the Paraguayan Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Chilean Minister has been acting under direct instructions from Santiago in this matter.
[Page 305]The Paraguayan note which called forth the reply which the Chilean Minister is about to present mentioned Chilean protests concerning the violent campaign against Chile and its governing officials which is being carried on in the Paraguayan press, and gave as sufficient reason the contracting of Chilean officers and laborers by Bolivia and the shipment of war materials to Bolivia through Chilean territory and over Chilean railroads. The Paraguayan note observed that these facts forced the conclusion that such actions were the result of a deliberate policy of the Chilean Government and that they were unneutral acts of partiality toward Bolivia.
The Chilean note, which the Minister showed to me last evening, states that the Government of Chile had desired to discuss differences calmly through diplomatic channels; that now it could not accept Paraguayan criticism of the President of Chile and the charge that personal economic interests led the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs to favor Bolivia; that the tone of the Paraguayan note indicates that the Paraguayan Government accepts as its own, and therefore assumes responsibility for, the violent opinions expressed in the press; and that in view of these circumstances the Chilean Government has decided to instruct its Minister to leave Asunción and to turn over the archives of the Legation to an official for safe-keeping. Press reports state that a secretary from the Chilean Embassy in Buenos Aires is en route to Asunción. The Minister said last night that he had no confirmation of this fact but that the Argentine Minister has agreed to take charge of the archives until other arrangements could be made. The Chilean Minister expects to leave Asunción on Sunday.
President Ayala has been ill and I have not been able to see him since the conversation reported in my despatch 94 of July 25th.3 The Chilean Minister suggested last evening, personally and unofficially, that I might think it advisable to see the President to discuss this matter with him. I replied that I preferred not to take any action without instructions from my Government. However, the feeling against Chile is so bitter and the President was obviously so indignant about the matter during our last conversation that I believe that any further reference to it would be unfortunate. This feeling is increased in Government circles by personal dislike for the present Chilean Minister. Consequently I shall take no action in absence of instructions other than to keep informed concerning the course of events.
I have just been informed that the note has been presented and that the Chilean Minister is leaving Sunday.
- Not printed.↩