723.2515/1697: Telegram
The Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:25 p.m.]
From Pershing: At meeting of the Commission this morning Chilean Commissioner read lengthy statement. He said that he wished to believe that the Peruvian Commissioner and the President of the Commission were acting with best and loftiest intentions, and then proceeded in a recital of proceedings of the Commission to make deliberate and disingenuous attempt not only to misrepresent those proceedings but to impugn motives and attack character of his colleagues on the Commission, especially my own. Object is doubtless [Page 422] to confuse the issue and bring proceedings of Commission to an end in such a way as to enable Chile to escape her just responsibility. I shall endeavor to take care that he does not succeed.
Edwards stated that under instructions from his Government his statement would be made public in press tomorrow. I told him that this would be violation of our agreement. I shall make no statement to press except that if Chilean Government is dissatisfied with proceedings of the Plebiscitary Commission, it has right to appeal to Arbitrator.
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- Pershing
- Von Tresckow