723.2515/450: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
977. Mr. Lansing.
On February 28 Mr. Polk wrote to the President that the Minister of Peru under instructions from his Government had asked the Department whether Peru should present the question of its differences with Chile to the Peace Conference. Mr. Polk’s letter suggested four means of dealing with the Chilean-Peruvian question and asked the President his opinion regarding them.
- 1.
- Try to influence Chile to accept the United States as an arbitrator.
- 2.
- Press them to select one or more arbitrators and intimate that they might select United States and two European countries, or even three European countries.
- 3.
- Leave the question to be dealt with at the Peace Conference.
- 4.
- Leave question until the League of Nations is formed.
The letter concluded by recommending Number 2.
On March 3 the President wrote to Mr. Polk stating that he agreed with his conclusion that Number 2 is the best course to pursue and that it should be pursued with considerable energy and persistence.