Aide-Mémoire to the Chilean Legation.
Washington, June 1, 1910.
On May 14 the Secretary of State asked the Chilean minister to give his Government the fullest assurances that nothing could be more agreeable to the Government of the United States than to have the cooperation of Chile, and that if Chilean-Peruvian relations should later become such as to make it practicable for Chile to participate in the mediation, such participation would be most welcome to the United States. These assurances were given even before the Government of Ecuador intimated that, for its part, Chilean participation in the mediation would be agreeable.
As for preliminary discussion of an arrangement of the boundary question, the United States sees at this time no legitimate occasion whatever for any such discussion, which would be entirely premature.
Mediation as to the boundary dispute can only occur—first, if the fact be established that there is to be no award, or, second, if after an award difficulties should arise. The mediation was offered upon definite conditions, and its acceptance, already made by both Peru and Ecuador, obviously is the acceptance of those conditions and the imposition of no others. The first condition was that the two Governments should “withdraw their forces from the frontier, suspend mobilization and other measures of preparation for war, and await eventualities.” All questions as to the boundary are precisely the eventualities which Peru and Ecuador solemnly undertook to await. The mediating powers have recommended to the Governments of Ecuador and Peru that on June 4 they carry out this paramount obligation, which is the first to arise since their acceptance of the mediation.
Relying upon the cordial assurances of cooperation given by the Chilean Government, the Secretary of State now asks the chargé d’affaires to inform his Government that he sets great store by the avowed influence of Chile upon Ecuador to withdraw its troops on June 4, thus discharging the first of those conditions arising from its acceptance, which can only be unconditional, and thus averting war and awaiting eventualities which may include mediation, in which case the Secretary of State repeats that the participation of Chile in the discussion will be most agreeable to the united States if only the circumstances at the time should make it practicable.