723.2515/1642: Telegram
The Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 15—1:17 p.m.]
From Pershing: Secretary’s telegram October 12, 6 p.m. Agreement of Chilean Ambassador with your construction of award and its legal effect may indicate attitude of Government of Chile, but this view has not yet found expression here through Chilean representatives. Commissioner Edwards takes ground that Plebiscitary Commission does not have the authority which seems perfectly clear in your construction. The Commission has not met since October 10, and I shall give Edwards a reasonable time to receive instructions from his Government. Ambassador Mathieu is wholly misinformed in placing cause of trouble on Peruvian agitators from the Ucayali. Insofar as I am informed, Peruvians have in no instance provoked disturbances; but whenever Peruvians, with exception of officials, have attempted to [Page 398] come ashore or to visit their families or to circulate among their fellow countrymen almost invariably they have been attacked and beaten up. Usually the Chilean police have stood by in apparent approval. In the greater number of these assaults Peruvians have made complaints before Chilean police courts, but in only one case has the Chilean offender even been brought to judgment, and his fine was quite inadequate. No Peruvian would dare to provoke a disturbance for fear of his life. Assertions similar to those made by the Ambassador are constantly made here by Chilean authorities but are made merely to shift blame. … Our investigations have proved that there have been 81 expulsions or deportations since publication of the award, 5 of them on very day of my arrival in Arica; there is also convincing evidence that at least 87 others were deported on or about March 5. Responsibility for these deportations and other unlawful acts rests on Chilean Government. …
The Ambassador’s suggestion that Chilean troops be confined to barracks instead of being removed from the province is quite inadequate to meet situation. Impossible to apply suggestion for necessary period and I would not trust promise to keep troops confined unless they were under neutral guard. The presence of the troops is dangerous menace to fair and free plebiscite; their removal will serve as outward and visible expression of change of conditions. Responsible party cannot be allowed to plead opposition of army itself, in order that this necessary prerequisite may be avoided.
There are now four times the number of carabineers here that were in the province less than two years ago. The number of policemen has also been largely increased. These forces together with present civil officials throughout the territory have with practically no exceptions been involved in work of deportation, coercion, and intimidation. The ratio of the combined forces of army, carabineers, and police to males over 20 years of age in the territory is one to six.
Removals must be publicly announced and carried out to convince absent voters that it will be safe to return. …
The demands contained in my resolution must, I think, be regarded as minimum and any material modification cannot be accepted. They are necessary to give assurance on Chile’s part of purpose to hold free plebiscite and to satisfy Peru that that is our purpose. They are also necessary to remove as far as possible the agencies and the conditions which have contributed to the present reign of terror. Further demands may be made from time to time in assuring free and fair plebiscite. Any substantial modification of position we have taken would destroy usefulness of Plebiscitary Commission and make free plebiscite impossible. Pershing.