received at the Legation at 6 o'clock this afternoon. Text of the note follows: "Mr. Minister: I have had today the pleasure of receiving the visit of Your Excellency made with the object of transmitting to me a message from the Most Excellent Mr. Kellogg which expresses the anticipation that the Conference of Conciliation and Arbitration may offer its good offices to Paraguay and Bolivia for the settlement of the conflict pending between the two countries and that he desires that every act opposed to the maintenance of peace be avoided. It is superfluous to repeat to Your Excellency that which I have said in divers official documents of extensive diffusion which is that my Government does not consider itself culpable for the incident which occurred the fifth of the month near Fort Galpon, that she has taken the lead in proposing that there be opened an impartial investigation of the evidence to discern the responsibility and finally that she does not avoid any proceeding destined to solve the conflict by peaceable means. I fulfill with pleasure a charge from the Most Excellent President of the Republic of Paraguay in saying to you that Paraguay will not be the one who breaks the bounds of sanity or provokes a war. In thanking Your Excellency, etc., signed Zubizarreta, Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs." In the following words the President charged me to make known to Secretary Kellogg his personal appreciation of the offer: "Tell your Government I give my most solemn promise that nothing shall be done by this Government to mar or hinder the tender of good offices by the Conference which I heartily welcome." Notice of Bolivian mobilization of troops on the Pilcomayo has reached Asuncion. Through the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires, the Spanish Government offers its good offices "although it recognizes that exhortation to peace made by adequate organisms and believe as the mother country that it fulfills an indispensable and very honorable duty in uniting its voice to that of said organisms." Confidentially, it was stated European intervention is not desired. KREECK 724.3415/268: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Bolivia (Kaufman) [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, December 14, 1928-4 p. m. 36. Your telegram No. 61, December 14, noon. Since the Conference today by unanimous action (except Bolivia which was not present and Paraguay which refrained from voting) offered its good offices, and since I am Chairman of the Conference, I do not desire to suggest anything which might interfere with the action of the Conference or the acceptance of its good offices which I am exceedingly anxious to have Bolivia give. KELLOGG 724.3415/271b, 302: Telegram The Chairman of the International Conference of American States on Conciliation and Arbitration (Kellogg) to the Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Elio) 68 [Translation] WASHINGTON, December 14, 1928. I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the following report of the Special Commission of the Conference together with a resolution, both adopted unanimously by the International Conference of American States on Conciliation and Arbitration, except Paraguay, which abstained from voting and Bolivia, which was not present. The report says: The Committee charged with reporting to the Conference on the conciliatory action that may be appropriate with respect to the incident between the Republics of Bolivia and Paraguay, after being informed of the replies received from both nations to the cable message sent by the Chairman of this Conference on Conciliation and Arbitration, considers that the Conference in plenary session is called upon to decide upon the course which should be followed. Nevertheless, the Committee deems it to be its duty to suggest to the Conference a concrete proposal to the end that the principles of conciliation and arbitration in support of which it was convened may find their most sincere and their friendliest application in this case. In accordance with American tradition, in general, as shown by the antecedents, expressions of hope and Pan American resolutions, and also in conformity with the measures adopted during the last years for the maintenance of world peace, the Conference may take a prudent and effective course with the assurance of general approval for its endeavor. The friendly proceedings of an Assembly of Sister Republics must find favorable echo and most sympathetic reception, especially in the spirit of the nations directly interested in the incident. Those proceedings show the degree of solidarity and affection by which the other countries of the hemisphere feel bound to them. Animated by these sentiments, and without assuming any political attitude beyond the appropriate purposes of this Conference, the Committee proposes to this Assembly the Conference proffer its good offices to the interested parties for the purpose of promoting suitable conciliatory measures with the aim of preserving the principle of conciliation and arbitration as a solid foundation of international life. The same, on the same date, to the Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs. 23757642 -52 The Resolution says The Conference, therefore, resolves: To offer to the interested parties its good offices with the object of promoting adequate conciliatory measures to maintain the principle of conciliation and arbitration as the solid foundation of international life. FRANK B. KELLOGG 724.3415/282: Telegram The Minister in Paraguay (Kreeck) to the Secretary of State ASUNCIÓN, December 16, 1928-2 p. m. [Received December 18-3: 35 a. m.] 34. Paraguayan Foreign Office has advised me of Bolivian attack, airplane made yesterday afternoon, December 15th, upon Bahia Negra. Bombs were dropped but failed to explode; later opened rapid fire but no casualties reported. At the same time Bolivian troops attacked three Paraguayan positions in Central Chaco, located Fort Lopez and outposts Rivarola and General Genes. Paraguayan troops withdrew before Bolivians in obligation not to provoke hostilities. In view of attacks made, the President of Paraguay has called all citizens 18 to 28 years of age report for duty. Important confidential message follows. KREECK 724.8415/285: Telegram The Minister in Paraguay (Kreeck) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] ASUNCIÓN, December 16, 1928—2 p. m. [Received December 18-3: 43 a. m.] 35. Good offices of the Conference are being considered by the Paraguayan Cabinet in session this morning. The delay in accepting is due to a report from Buenos Aires that Bolivia has accepted mediation of Argentina, and also to a report that Argentina has not withdrawn in favor of the Conference. Paraguay has telegraphed to Doctor Ayala in Buenos Aires to ascertain definitely from President Irigoyen action of Argentina, whether Argentina has or has not withdrawn, and to report immediately so that a reply can be sent to the Conference. I was requested to confer again with the Foreign Minister at 5 o'clock. Certain strong measures must be taken immediately toward Bolivia, for Paraguay cannot stand idle in the face of an invasion. Present situation is very grave. KREECK 724.3415/284: Telegram The Minister in Paraguay (Kreeck) to the Secretary of State ASUNCIÓN, December 16, 1928-8 p. m. [Received December 18-3: 27 a. m.] 36. Paraguay accepts offer of Conference; Minister of Foreign Affairs now drafting acceptance which will be telegraphed to Secretary Kellogg tonight. Up to 8 o'clock p. m., Argentina had not answered Paraguay's question as to its attitude (see my telegram 35); situation desperate; Paraguay could not wait longer and acceptance given. Blow against American peace has been struck; energetic and forceful measures must be employed against aggression and attacks of Bolivia, or Paraguay will be invaded. Minister of War permitted me to read intercepted Bolivian radiogram directing 10,000 troops be immediately mobilized on Pilcomayo. Another attack reported this afternoon, announcing resistance by Paraguayans and their retaking of fort lost yesterday. This locality is not far from American enterprise at Pinasco and Mennonite colonization. . . . Only prompt and extreme pressure upon Bolivia will achieve peace. Paraguayans, heretofore calm, now excited and exceedingly nervous and fearful. KREECK 724.3415/275: Telegram The Minister in Bolivia (Kaufman) to the Secretary of State LA PAZ, December 17, 1928-1 a. m. 62. Following instructions from the Department and pursuant to an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, including Mr. Palacios and other members of Cabinet, I have the following to report: That Bolivia will accept the good offices of the Pan American Conference within 48 hours. This delay is owing to the fact that certain prominent Bolivians are on the way to La Paz and, secondly, Bolivian Government has made inquiries of certain South American Republics asking advice whether to accept the League or the good offices of the Pan American Conference. Bolivian Government has furnished me the plan in advance upon which they would be willing to submit the present differences between both countries to the Pan American Conference. Plan: 1st. The good offices of the Washington Conference would be accepted; 2nd. The Conference would nominate a commission composed of the representatives of the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Cuba; 3rd. The commission of good offices would proceed as follows: (a) To paralyze immediately the war actions in the Chaco; (b) Investigation of facts that have occurred so as to fix the resultant responsibilities; (c) Fixation of an arbitral zone in accordance with the GutierrezDiaz Leon pact pointing out concrete points of the arbitration juris; (d) Fixation of a modus vivendi guarantee by the Conference in order to avoid new clashes during the arbitration; (e) To put before The Hague or some other tribunal the arbitration matter. 4th. This plan has not as yet received Government approval. The Bolivian Government unofficially has requested me to ask Department to do all possible to have Brazil, Ecuador and the United States represented on the conciliation commission. They state that this request is made not because Bolivia asks any favoritism but because they desire the assurance of an unbiased judgment of her case. KAUFMAN 724.3415/302: Telegram The Paraguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs (Zubizarreta) to the Chairman of the International Conference of American States on Conciliation and Arbitration (Kellogg) [Translation] ASUNCIÓN, December 17, 1928. [Received December 17-11:30 a. m.] I reply to the despatch with which your Excellency has honored me to transmit to me the offer of the good offices of the Pan-American Conference on Arbitration. At the moment when this Government was considering your Excellency's message and giving to it the weight of its high significance Bolivia invades our territory with numerous troops, attacks our vigilance posts and outposts by surprise and without previous notice of war, and bombards with airplanes our military positions. That is how Bolivia responds to the recommendation made to both countries that they do not commit acts which might aggravate the situation and obstruct the peace measures. All this, your Excellency, under the excuse that my country owes it reparations. Paraguay hastened to offer that a trial be opened before an impartial tribunal; it asked the facts of the conflict be investigated as an indispensable step for rendering a decision. Then it would have been in order to ascertain responsibilities and fix punishment. This measure of good sense Bolivia attempts to replace with a prior condemnation of the conduct of my country. Bolivia asks that Paraguay be condemned before being tried and this absurdity stirs the honest con |