722.2315/1454: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)22
310. From the Under Secretary. Your 396, May 2, 8 p.m.22a Both the Government of Ecuador and the Government of Peru have addressed messages to the three Governments tendering their friendly services accepting the offer. In its reply the Peruvian Government made several far-reaching reservations, but in a strictly confidential message addressed to this Government by the Government of Ecuador23 the latter Government expresses the opinion that these Peruvian reservations should not be regarded as an obstacle which would prevent the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, and the United States from proceeding in their efforts to further the settlement of the boundary dispute.
In the opinion of this Government the most expedient procedure for the three Governments to adopt would be to regard the two messages of acceptance from Peru and Ecuador as satisfactory since it is feared that if any attempt is made by the three Governments to obtain a more favorable reply from Peru, the latter will claim that pressure is being exercised upon it which is not consonant with its national sovereignty and dignity, and that consequently a situation might result which would make it impossible for the three Governments to interpose their good offices with a view to resolving the dispute. It would seem probable that ways and means could later be found to resolve the difficulties created by the Peruvian reservations. I have given very careful consideration to the views expressed by the Argentine Government in this regard, but I am glad to say that, availing myself of the presence in Washington of the new Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs,24 I found he fully shares my views in this regard and that he has cabled his Government accordingly. I have likewise consulted the Brazilian Ambassador who is also in accord.
As a result of an exchange of views held today between Ruiz Guiñazú, the Brazilian Ambassador, and myself, we suggest that the following message be now sent without further delay by the three Governments to the Governments of Ecuador and Peru.
[Here follows the text of message sent on May 20, printed on page 228.]
Both the Brazilian and Argentine Ambassadors are submitting the [Page 227] text of this suggested message by telegram to their respective Governments to ascertain whether the suggested text is approved.
Please ascertain personally of the Foreign Minister whether the suggested step is in fact agreeable to him and telegraph the Department as soon as possible since it would be desirable that this new message be sent simultaneously from the three capitals.25 I would suggest tentatively that the suggested message, if approved, should be sent from the three capitals at 10 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, May 20. [Welles.]
- The same on the same date to the Ambassador in Argentina as telegram No. 252 in reply to his telegram No. 438, May 14, 6 p.m. (not printed).↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not found in Department files.↩
- Enrique Ruiz Guiñazú.↩
- The Ambassadors in Argentina and Brazil reported that such a message would be sent by the Argentine and Brazilian Foreign Offices.↩