710.11/214½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: The Chilean Ambassador called to see me yesterday and informed me that he had communicated with his Government and that the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs had said something to Mr. Fletcher about the proposed propositions for a Pan-American treaty, but had not intended to indicate to him that [Page 491] the Government desired to transfer the negotiations to Santiago. I explained to the Ambassador that Mr. Fletcher had merely drawn that conclusion from having been approached on the subject and that of course it was in no way desired to have the negotiations conducted other than here in Washington if it was agreeable to his Government. . . .
The attitude of the Chilean Ambassador toward me in this matter is one of the greatest friendliness and from a conversation I had with him a short time ago I believe that he can be persuaded to advise his Government in favor of the propositions as drafted. He told me that the first proposition, granting territorial and political integrity, had been presented to him by Mr. Bryan with practically no explanation as to the meaning. After talking it over with him he felt that it was far less objectionable than he had supposed and he believed that his Government would not seriously object to it. Of course it is the first proposition which is the essence of the compact and if we can secure his adhesion to that we can, in all probability, remove anything objectionable in the other propositions.
I will at once redraft the propositions eliminating the matter of time in the settlement of boundary disputes, and submit to you.
Faithfully yours,