723.2515/1688: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow)
For Pershing: Following telegram, dated November 24, noon, just received from Collier:
“Santiago papers daily devote pages editorially and in despatches as to impasse. All contend that Chile can make no further guarantees nor participate further until Commission ‘begins to do that for which it was established, namely, enacts election law and proceeds to hold plebiscite’. [Here follows a summary of newspaper opinion which has been omitted.]
[Page 418][Paraphrase]
I know, nevertheless, that many Chileans feel that Chilean Government has made a mistake and that it should give every reasonable guarantee of fairness; it is felt by all that Commission should not delay holding plebiscite, that Peruvians should not be allowed to provoke incidents, and that Americans who accompany Peruvians should be sent home at General Pershing’s request. As long as they are there, although they are private citizens, it will be impossible to make Chileans believe that our Government is impartial.
President of Chile and Minister for Foreign Affairs have both given out statements that Chile will adhere to position she has taken unless and until Commission shows desire to hold plebiscite promptly. Both state with evident seriousness their desire to retain friendship of America; and I believe that bad as situation is, it can be saved by firmness and consideration. Recent speech of President of Peru on occasion of receiving new Bolivian Minister in which he offered Peru’s help to Bolivia to recover Province of Antofogasta, has created bad impression here. Utterances of this sort are cause of police surveillance of Peruvians in Tarapacá and of deportations from that province.
The Brazilian Ambassador, the Uruguayan Minister, and the Colombian Chargé have come to see me about recent developments. In talking with them I said that I had no instructions but that General Pershing was animated solely by desire to hold absolutely impartial plebiscite, and that I regretted Chile’s action but that I was confident that Chile would never be willing to incur the universal condemnation of the American Republics which I felt would certainly follow an action that must be interpreted as an unwillingness to accept suggestions intended merely to secure just and honest plebiscite. I think these diplomats will express this view to their Governments and will talk this way to Chilean Government if it sounds them out. Still, to obtain approval of other American Republics it may be well to avoid further delay in the plebiscitary proceedings which to many of them seems unnecessarily long and which all realize only gives additional opportunity for passions to become more inflamed.
I have reliable information that ex-President Alessandri is returning here to urge the Government to maintain its present position or refuse to continue with plebiscite on ground that proceedings to date have been violation of award and usurpation of power by Pershing. He and Barros Jarpa are being denounced by many for getting Chile to arbitrate, and others talk loosely of great violence being done them if outcome is unsatisfactory; on other hand, Edwards is receiving much criticism for having angered Pershing.
The desire for a political settlement with division of the territory is evidently growing; foreign diplomats often speak of it as the only solution that offers possibility of restoring harmony.”