File No. 723.2515/199.
The American Minister to Chile to the Secretary of State.
Santiago, Chile, December 1, 1910.
Referring to Department’s November 18, repeated from Peru. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me Chilean Government has not sent Mr. Alfonso to Peru nor authorized him to negotiate and is ignorant of his proceedings except as learned from others. Minister for Foreign Affairs, however, very confidentially intimated that Chile might accept such a division of the territory as would leave the Arica-La Paz Railway in Chilean territory. This would give the Province of Arica and a small portion of Tacna to Chile, leaving the city of Tacna and most of Province of Tarata to Peru.
He has instructed Chilean Minister to thank Secretary of State for Department’s attitude, which he highly appreciates. He also very confidentially informed me he had again, since the withdrawal of the King of Spain as arbiter, urgently advised Ecuador to accept mediation and had refused them arms, etc., because they had not accepted the mediation. Chilean Minister instructed to inform Department of this fact also. My opinion is that no definite steps are likely to be taken in Tacna-Arica matter until after new government takes office on 24th instant.