723.2515/1658: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow)
For Pershing: This morning Peruvian Ambassador handed me memorandum69 stating that your reports before Plebiscitary Commission at meetings of October 8 and 10 have fully proved Peruvian contention of intense hostility of Chilean authorities and that situation has fully justified Peruvian request for guarantees and has served as basis for your resolutions. Government of Peru thinks guarantees are not enough and that neutralization of the territory which was asked by the Peruvian Commissioner on August 10 should at once be decided upon. Peru would, however, be disposed to accept your resolutions on recognition of their preliminary character and with understanding that, as they show themselves to be insufficient, request for complete neutralization made by Commissioner Freyre will be granted. The memorandum concludes by saying that Peru agrees to this course as proof of wish to be conciliatory and to cooperate in execution of plebiscite, but without in any way changing policy which she firmly decided to follow of taking part in plebiscite only if wholly legal and correct and with as full and efficient guarantees for Peruvians as for Chileans. I presume Freyre has handed you a copy of memorandum so I am not cabling text. I told Ambassador Velarde that you were on the ground and that we relied on you to say what guarantees are necessary; and that, as he had already been informed, Arbitrator has not power to take over policing of provinces but that you and this Government are determined to do all that is possible to carry out fair and free election.
- Not printed.↩