723.2515/1679: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Collier) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 13—9:50 a.m.]
118. Department’s No. 72, November 11, 11 a.m. I informed the Chilean Foreign Office of Peruvian complaints made to me, and the Ministry sent the Counselor to see me. He volunteered following information: Few of those maintained by the Government are from Tacna, and these will all be repatriated at expense of Government before date of plebiscite if they desire to be. Greater part of those brought here from Tarapacá were brought because of Government’s desire to protect them from popular violence arising from suspicion that Peruvians had promoted disorders. All are maintained at Government expense. Minister of Foreign Affairs was not aware of this until Peruvians made complaints. He says this was stupid use of funds and states that police and administrative authorities were permitted to do it because no other funds were available. All who wished would be sent back; but it was believed that, being well cared for, they will prefer to stay here. Conclusion of Counselor’s statement.
[Page 413]This version of Chilean Government’s action has since been confirmed by Minister for Foreign Affairs, who expresses willingness to have Government of the United States make inquiries, and asserts his desire to give information on any complaint that may be brought to his attention. Since first call at the Embassy, Peruvians have come here daily to say that they were not molested by neighbors in the north and needed no protection from them; that they are remaining here involuntarily; but that since first complaint was made to me they have been required to sign statements to contrary and upon refusal have been threatened with repatriation, but without indemnification or the opportunity to earn a living.
These cases I have not discussed with the Foreign Office. Writer of first complaint to me said that he addressed me because numerous letters to Plebiscitary Commission had apparently been intercepted.
I am convinced that practically all of these deportations were unjustified and are related to the plebiscite, and that charges of communistic activity are pretexts. …
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I respectfully submit my view, in answer to your request. It is quite apparent that our duty requires us not to ignore any fact which affects the plebiscite, or any relevant statement if it is not inherently improbable. Our diplomatic and consular officers in Chile should be free to take statements from all who assert that rights granted them by award are being violated or whose liberty appears to be abridged because of their lawful activities in connection with the plebiscite. Diplomatic and consular officers, at least under the present circumstances, should avoid everything susceptible of being construed as espionage or police investigation or interference with administrative action; but they should be free to hear complaints and, after previously consulting with the authorities, even to visit places of residence or detention, and their interviews with complainants should be private to avoid fear of later punishment by complainants. Impartiality, in my opinion, requires that after complaint has been received, then Chilean authorities should be fully informed and given opportunity to explain or to refute. …
I am confident that if I bring these complaints to the attention of the present Minister for Foreign Affairs, he will accept and probably suggest course of procedure I have just outlined. I believe it even possible to obtain his promise to give complete list of all natives of Tacna now in Chile with their present residence and changes of residence in future and to acknowledge the right of unrestricted correspondence and interview between them and American diplomatic, consular, or plebiscitary representatives. Embassy and consulates should keep in touch in order to ascertain reliability of statements made, and especially to ascertain that the repatriated really get home.
[Page 414]… I believe bitterness which Chileans feel against our observers in Tacna, and in certain places against our consuls, arises from Chilean belief that they conduct ex parte investigations, encourage Peruvian complaints, and do not give Chile chance to explain or refute.