File No. 723.2515/289.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Minister to Chile.
Washington, March 17, 1913.
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatch No. 300, of January 30, 1913, regarding the question of the settlement of the Tacna-Arica dispute between Chile and Peru, which it has read with considerable interest.
The attitude adopted by you in your formal interview with Mr. Villegas meets with the Department’s approval.
The Department does not wish definitely to instruct you to discourage any suggestion from the Chilean foreign office looking to the friendly mediation of the United States, either alone or in conjunction with Argentine and Brazil, as it may not be impossible that at some future date the situation may change in such a way as to render it desirable that this Government should act.
You will accordingly be guided by the knowledge that it is the general policy of this Government not to act as mediator unless requested to do so by all parties to a dispute.
Should the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs again approach you on this subject, you should reply, without indicating that you have any special instructions, that you know the above to be the general policy of this Government in such matters, even when, as in this case, it is most desirous, for the welfare of both countries, that a speedy solution of the question, satisfactory to both Chile and Peru, be reached.
Such a reply would leave the Department free in the eventuality that both Chile and Peru should indicate a desire for the friendly and impartial good offices of the United States.
The Department is sending to the Legation at Lima, for its strictly confidential information, a copy of your despatch and also a copy of this instruction. Should it develop in the future that the Government of Peru should desire outside advice, it might see fit to request the mediation of this Government, in which case you will be informed by telegraph.
I am [etc.]