723.2515/1700: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Collier)
77. Embassy’s 123, November 28, 8 p.m. I am greatly pleased to have your information. In order that you may have background in [Page 423] any future conversations, I wish to restate my position and explain attitude I took in my No. 69, October 31, 2 p.m.76
Nothing would be more gratifying to me than to have a diplomatic settlement of Tacna-Arica question, and there has never been time when I would have hesitated to advise both parties to make settlement of that sort. How to approach them is the difficult question. I am not aware how I could do it without being asked by both parties, as I indicated in my telegram No. 69, and without running great risk of criticism. As soon as both parties ask my good offices, I am willing to advise settlement and to lend my aid in every way.