722.2315/2709a: circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions in the American Republics45
Please hand, in company of your Argentine and Brazilian colleagues, (if any), immediately to the Minister for Foreign Affairs an aide-mémoire to be regarded as addressed to the Government to which you are accredited by the Governments of Argentina, of Brazil and of the United States and of which the text is as follows:
“The Governments of Argentina, of Brazil and of the United States, whose good offices were accepted by the Governments of Ecuador and of Peru, are in accord that it is in the highest degree essential that the means for a pacific solution of the boundary dispute between Ecuador and Peru be found at the earliest possible moment. Under existing world conditions, the gravity of which is daily increasing, the unity of the American Republics is more than ever necessary. The dangers inherent in a continuation of this dispute are undoubtedly fully recognized by the peoples of the twenty-one American Republics.
The approaching Consultative Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics to be held on January 15 next at Rio de [Page 253] Janeiro, at which are to be discussed problems relating to the security of the Western Hemisphere and at which the complete solidarity of the American Republics is imperatively demanded, makes it all the more necessary that the means for assuring a peaceful settlement of this boundary dispute be found.
In their earnest desire to be of service in bringing about an equitable and satisfactory basis for successful negotiations between Ecuador and Peru which would lead to a friendly and permanent settlement of the boundary controversy, the three Governments have therefore proposed simultaneously to the Governments of Ecuador and of Peru that the two governments accept as a basis for the negotiation of a permanent and definitive boundary settlement the status quo line of 1936.
The Governments of Argentina, of Brazil, and of the United States have further proposed that should the two governments accept the basis of negotiation thus advanced, the armed forces of Peru be withdrawn back of the 1936 status quo line and that the negotiations for a final settlement take place, as previously proposed, in the capital of the Argentine Republic.
In their desire that all the governments of the American Republics be fully informed of the efforts which have been and which are being made by the three governments whose good offices have been accepted to further a peaceful settlement of this dispute, the Governments of Argentina, of Brazil, and of the United States are bringing these facts to the attention of the Government of . . . . . . .”
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Sent to all the Missions except to those in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. The telegram to the Mission in Chile had the following additional final paragraph: “The Department requests that you hand this aide-mémoire personally to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and state to him that, as he is already well aware, the Government of the United States, together with the Governments of Argentina and of Brazil, have been most happy to indicate their hope that the Government of Chile might be associated with them in their efforts to promote a speedy and satisfactory solution of the boundary controversy. The Government of Ecuador has officially accepted the inclusion of Chile among the American governments whose good offices have been accepted, but no official reply has as yet been received with regard thereto from the Government of Peru. You should further say that your Government earnestly hopes that the Government of Chile will in every appropriate way express its support of the suggestions above set forth.”
In a telegram of January 5, 1942, the Ambassador in Pern reported that the Peruvian Government also had accepted the addition of Chile to the Governments extending their good offices (722.2315/2751).
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