File No. 723.2515/136.

The American Chargé d’Affaires at Lima to the Secretary of State.

No. 338.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that on receipt of the Department’s cable of March 22, following the withdrawal of the Peruvian Legation at Santiago, I called at the Foreign Office and communicated to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the orders transmitted by my Government to our Chargé d’Affaires to accept the custody of the Peruvian Legation at the Chilean capital. He thanked me informally and said that after laying the matter before the President he would indicate a more formal and definite acceptance on the part of his Government.

In another interview, on March 24, he asked me to convey the President’s thanks to my Government. He also inquired whether I had had any indications of the scope of my Government’s proposed action, and especially whether they would undertake the “protection of the rights of Peruvian citizens in Chile.” I answered by quoting the terms of the Department’s cabled instructions, and informally added that it was my impression that my Government would undertake the custody of the Peruvian Legation in the sense that that term generally implied, using their good offices whenever necessary. I also referred to the recent precedent of my Government’s action in view of the rupture of diplomatic relations between [Page 1185] the Argentine Republic and Bolivia. Dr. Porras expressed himself satisfied to accept this action as a precedent in the present case.

I have [etc.]

Wm Penn Cresson.