Office of the Historian

File No. 723.2515/256.

The Peruvian Charge d’Affaires at Washington to the Secretary of State.

Peruvian Legation,
Washington, December 1, 1911.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: With reference to the memorandum1 delivered by my Government to the representatives of the United States, Argentina, and Brazil at Lima, on the 23d of October, and complementing the information therein contained, I am advised that my Government has presented, on the 30th ultimo, & further memorandum to the aforesaid representatives calling their attention to the following facts, that tend to prove the intention of the Chilean Government to effect in Tacna and Arica an unilateral plebiscite. This my Government would be obliged to reject through a natural sentiment of dignity, and in consequence a serious conflict will sooner or later ensue.

The facts I allude to are as follows:

I.
The Chilean Government has expelled the Peruvian delegate from Tacna;
II.
The Chilean Government has demanded the resignation of the Peruvian commissioner of irrigation (delegado de aguas), appointed [Page 1216] by the local farmers, and in his stead has substituted a Chilean citizen, with instructions to deprive the Peruvian farmers of the water they need;
III.
Chile continues to authorize the injuries to the persons and properties of Peruvian citizens residing at Tacna and Arica, Iquique, and Antofagasta;
IV.
The Chilean Government has presented to Congress a project of law nominating representatives to Congress from Tacna and Arica;
V.
The enforcement of the law on military service has been extended to Tacna and Arica, thereby obliging those Peruvian citizens who are affected by it to abandon their native land or to serve in the Chilean army;
VI.
The unusually large number of troops actually concentrated at Tacna is to be considerably augmented by the Chilean Government; and
VII.
Chile has ordered to Germany 100,000 rifles and requires their immediate delivery.

In view of these facts and as the first memorandum of my Government has as yet remained unanswered, my Government jointly reiterates to the Powers who have mediated in previous conflicts its request that they exercise their good offices in the form they deem best, with the intent of upholding the prestige of our continent and maintaining international peace.

I am [etc.]

M. de Freyre y S.
  1. Inclosure with Mr. Howard’s No. 65 of October 25, ante.↩