723.2515/1642: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow)
For Pershing: Your October 14, 6 p.m. I have considered the whole matter very carefully. I do not desire to condone any acts of oppression and violence which tend to destroy fair plebiscite, and any suggestions made in course of conversation with Chilean Ambassador were not made with that intention. I had not heard from Mathieu in reply to my note to Government of Chile, so I sent for him this morning and discussed entire question with him. I read him Collier’s message to me which was repeated to you in my October 15, 11 a.m.,67 and said that I did not think that Mr. Edwards had made proposed suggestions to you. I did not read him your telegram of October 14, 6 p.m., but told him that we had wholly reliable information of acts of oppression and coercion, as you had reported, and that my information was not received from Peruvian sources. I put it very strongly to him that Government of Chile must give protection necessary to fair plebiscite and should comply substantially with demands you set forth in your resolution, of which Mathieu had a copy; that both Chile and Peru had urged the President of the United States to accept the arbitration; the President had given his decision; the legal position in my note to Government of Chile was undeniably correct; it was inadmissible for Chilean Government now to obstruct election by means I had narrated. I did this in the hope that he would urge his Government to comply with your request.
Not being on the ground I am unable of course to judge of necessary measures which must be taken to insure fair election. My only desire is to call your attention to very great importance of carrying out plebiscite. The Tacna-Arica question had been a long-standing dispute and a menace not only to the peace of Chile and Peru, but also to the peace of South America, and failure now will be not only of vital concern to both countries but may involve them in serious conflict. Not only are future interests of those two countries involved, but those of South America generally. I feel very strongly that while interest of this Government is primarily to aid in settlement of this most difficult question, it is most important that you should not withdraw from plebiscite and should take every reasonable means to prevent either Chile or Peru from withdrawing, but if anyone is to withdraw it should be one of the other two nations. Your withdrawal would place this Government in most [Page 400] embarrassing position and would give Chile opportunity to assert that we are responsible for the failure. Without condoning any offense, every effort should in some way be made to arrange with Chile’s Commissioner for necessary protection in carrying out election, and careful consideration should be given any reasonable proposals.
Rather than to withdraw, suggest for your consideration and as last resort that, should resolution be adopted by majority of the Commission and Chile refuse to appeal but nevertheless continue to oppose thereby creating situation requiring attention of the Arbitrator, he might under the first paragraph of subdivision D of the award entertain an appeal on his own motion. If Arbitrator should determine that under the conditions Chile refuses to take measures to afford proper protection to insure fair plebiscite, Chile, by thus thwarting plebiscite and breaking condition on which she remained in possession of the territory, would incur forfeiture of the territory. While Arbitrator held that Chile’s acts had not been sufficiently proved to justify him in holding that Chile had forfeited her right, if the Arbitrator again has question before him on the evidence relating to plebiscite directed by the award, his determination would be conclusive as to very foundation of Chile’s right of possession. I doubt that Chile would be willing to face such very serious outcome. I think Ambassador Mathieu will cable his Government strongly urging it to take action, but whether Government of Chile will go to full extent of resolution I am unable, of course, to say. In meantime I shall lose no opportunity to press on Chilean Ambassador necessity for proper action. I think most careful consideration should be given any reasonable suggestion of Government of Chile and I am sure you will appreciate gravity of situation.
- Not printed.↩