MEETING OF THE ARGENTINE, BOLIVIAN AND PARAGUAYAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000800140005-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: November 24, 1945
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/27: CIA-RDP08001297R000800140005-6
a V
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No. 1905
UNRESTRICTED
La Paz, Bolivia
Nov. 24, 1945
Subject; Meeting of the Argentine, Bolivian and
Paraguayan Boundary Commissions
Supplementing despatch number 1786, November 8, 1945, on the subject
cited, I have the honor to report that the Argentine leader of the Mixed
Argentine, Chilean, Paraguayan, and. Bolivian Boundary Commission, General
Baldomero J. de Biedma, recently granted an interview to a representative
of the La Paz newspapter Ultima Bora. The following excerpts from his
quoted remarks may be of interest:
I,
I take satisfaction in saying that the task entuusted to me, as
Delegate and President of the commissions for the fixing of the boundaries
between Argentlna and Bolivia and Chile and Paraguay, and as arbiter in
the fixing of the boundary between Bolivia and Paraguay, is well advanced.
With respect to the boundary between my country and Bolivia I likewise
take satisfaction in saying that the fixing of the line is practically
completed-- thanks to the admirable comprehension of General Prieto. A
record has been broken. One year and two months whereas it was calculated
that much more time would be required. There remain only questions of a
secondary order. For example, the laws approved by both National Congresses
indicate points fixed between one mountain and another, and to draw the
direct imaginary line between these peaks, with valleys and towns below
demands a little more care. General Prieto is a man of value who unfortunately
is not known to his own brothers--why, I do not know.
P7With respect to my arbitration of the Bolivian-Paraguayan boundary, matters
were somewhat serious. And this was due to the fact that diplomats when they
are not technicians fail. For example, a single fact. They mention as a boundary
ridge the Otuquis on the Rivers Negro and Paraguay. Unfortunately, that could C12
not be complied with as we would have to penetrate some seven kilometers into 1.3
Brazilian territory.
0
11111
Fortunately, all this is being solved thanks to the new Americanist
spirit which exists among the delegates. Without exageration--which might
provoke the charge of "betrayers of nation" (vende patrias) so,much employed by 0
the politicians, the purport of the awards is bding =immix achieved. I believe tM
that in two more years of work the task will be completed . . .
General de Biedma told us (the reporter) without boasting that he had
decided, as Arbiter, in Asunci6n itself, in favor of Bolivia, because reason so
demanded". He then cited the Argentine-Paraguayan boundary question and said--
'Argentina being a Power, and Paraguay having just emerged from a bloody war,
we were guided only by our minds and never by our strength.'
My return trip next Friday is due to the fact that I must be in Chile the
15th in order to follow my work as President of my country's Delegation. That
demarkation will last some 20 years, because of the intricacy of the Arbigral
Award. It was at the beginning of the Centruy when His Britannic Majesty,
designated as Arbi ter, commissioned a British Colonel who, as he once said, left
the problem to be solved in the future.
Since I have obliged the Chilean and Argentine. Delegates to work together
and in complete collaboration, effective progress is being made. As in
Patagonia we can work only in the Summer, -since already. in March it is 10
degrees below zero
For these
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For these rude takks I think the military are best ,
suited, as they, unlike civilians, are not recipients from the
State treasury 6f heavy salaries, which make them extend the
time. This doen not happen with the military who only receive
recognized wages, and thus there is no reason to prolong matter."
It is to be presumed that the General's gratuitous
references to diplomats, politicians, and civilians, merely reflect
the well-known "military mind" and are not intentional propaganda
for the regime now in control of Argentina.
signed
Walter Thurston
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/27: CIA-RDP08001297R000800140005-6