The Secretary of State to Minister Sherrill.
Washington , May 13, 1910 .
Immediately repeat to Rio de Janeiro and yourself aci on the following instruction:
Yesterday the minister of Chile left at the department the following paraphrase of his telegraphic instruction:
Inform the Secretary of State that the situation between Ecuador and Peru is a grievous one, the armies of the countries being very near. Ask him what in his judgment is possible and practicable to prevent the outbreak. Chile is ready to cooperate in any peaceful settlement of the conflict. (Signed.) Edwards.
I shall to-morrow morning fully explain to the minister of Chile the proposed tripartite mediation and shall hand him an aide-mémoire from which I quote, for your information, the following three extracts:
- 1.
- With regard to the minister’s question Mr. Knox replies that prior to his con versation with Mr. Cruz on Thursday the President had already determined upon and taken action on the manner to-day orally described confidentially in all its detail.
- 2.
- The fear that present Chilean-Peruvian relations and, indeed, the fact that Chile has now no diplomatic representation at Lima, might cause the Government of Chile embarrassment in receiving such a suggestion alone deterred the President from inviting, in the first instance, the cooperation of Chile in precisely this manner. It is confidently hoped, however, that the Chilean Government will see in the opportunity afforded to use its influence in favor of the success of this mediation an occasion to cooperate effectively.
- 3.
- This full information, will, of course, be regarded as strictly confidential until, if the project be carried out, the joint representations shall have been made at Quito and Lima, after which, if Chilean-Peruvian relations are such that Chile shall find it practicable to participate in the mediation, such participation will be most welcome to the United States.
You will discreetly explain to the minister for foreign affairs that Chile’s offer to cooperate, happening to come immediately after the action taken in the telegram of yesterday, placed me in a position where it became proper to make these confidential explanations and that my own idea would be to make no modification in the policy proposed, but later when the tripartite mediation had been accepted then to favor the inclusion of Chile if found practicable and agreeable to all the Governments concerned.