File No. 763.72/6094

The Ambassador in Chile ( Shea) to the Secretary of State

No. 156

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s confidential telegram of July 2, 5 p.m. I feel that the officials of the Government here have assumed a more friendly attitude during the last few weeks. In a conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs a few days ago he said that if our South Atlantic Fleet should come to the West Coast and make a visit of courtesy to Valparaiso, it would be received as a friendly fleet.

Heretofore the Minister has been anxious that nothing should be done by our fleets or boats of any kind that could give the German Government any cause to complain of Chile’s conduct. I have reason to believe that some of the high officials of the Government are giving serious consideration to the question of Chile’s alignment [Page 310] with Brazil and the United States. The inquiry of the Chilean Ambassador in Washington, in view of the above situation here, is most interesting and significant.

I have [etc.]

Joseph H. Shea