724.3415/4321: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:30 a.m.]
317. 1. I am generally informed that the following were the chief developments in the meeting yesterday afternoon of the Chaco Committee of Twenty-two.
- (a)
- The report of the subcommittee of conciliation was adopted Consulate’s 316, November 12, 2 p.m. paragraph 1)71
- (b)
- Madariaga proposed that an invitation be extended to the United States and Brazil to participate in the work of the Committee or at least in its work of conciliation.
- (c)
- Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela associated themselves with this proposal.
- (d)
- Avenol explained the position of the United States (Department’s 99, September 27, 8 p.m.) and on that basis suggested the possible inexpediency of extending such an invitation. France supported Avenol’s views.
- (e)
- Madariaga questioned Avenol’s interpretation of the American position particularly in respect of its applying to paragraph 3 as well as paragraph 4 of article 15 of the Covenant.
- (f)
- Ususky72 presented a substitute proposal in the form of a resolution which was unanimously adopted, of which the following is the text.
“The Committee, prompted by the observations formulated in the course of the discussion of the Assembly and in conformity with the resolution adopted by the latter on September 27, has from the moment of its formation attached great importance to the collaboration of the United States of America and of Brazil for the solution of the conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay.
The Committee instructs the President and the Secretary General to choose the opportune moment for seeking this collaboration in the form deemed most appropriate.”
For reference in text see Consulate’s No. 274, September 26, 8 p.m.
2. Last evening Avenol and Osusky jointly formally handed me the text of the resolution. I fully appreciate the character of this action on their part: it was solely informative and is not to be regarded in any sense as an invitation.
They have not as yet decided how [to] act on this mandate of the committee.
The impression they left with me was that they were hesitant and somewhat embarrassed in the face of position previously expressed [Page 103] by Washington how to carry out the intent of the committee, that if possible they obtain American cooperation. They stated that they would communicate with me again shortly.
I personally construe their handing me the resolution unaccompanied by any request or suggestion to be that it is in the hope that I might be instructed to give them advice which by application would suggest the course they might best follow or obviate their taking action. The Department may wish to consider this with a view to forestalling protracted speculation here and in the press.
3. Avenol and Osusky told me that Madariaga’s proposal came as a complete surprise to them and they believed to almost all of the Committee.
My personal estimate of the situation is that Avenol and Osusky and perhaps certain European representatives would have opposed approaching the United States and Brazil in this sense at this time but in view of the support accorded this idea on the part of certain Latin American representatives they did not wish to place themselves in absolute opposition to these representatives in a Latin American matter. Thus the resolution which was adopted was a compromise within the terms of which there is considerable latitude respecting the action to be taken.
4. The Committee of Twenty-two will continue its sessions here until the convening of the Extraordinary Assembly on November 20.