723.2515/1745: Telegram
The Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 12—10:23 p.m.]
From Pershing: Secretary’s telegram December 8, 9 p.m. Under circumstances any attempt to fix dates for registration and election is guess work, more or less. Suggestions I have made were to help us out of what appears to be a deadlock. No one can be more anxious than I to make this effort a success, but it must not be done at sacrifice of reasonably free plebiscite. Your telegrams make me feel that existing situation here may not be entirely understood. There has been no improvement in conditions here in past four months. Law and order from plebiscitary point of view do not exist. Chile maintains grip on population and does not intend to release it. I regret that Mathieu was not told exactly reasons why we have been unable to fix dates earlier. … In deference to your suggestions I am willing to fix dates as I have indicated, but it is certain that we shall not be able to live up to them. … It must be remembered that we are dealing with a population which has never voted before. In addition, the ill feeling between the two elements of the population inflamed by the contest, Chile’s determination not to allow Peruvians to vote, and the consequent obstruction and interference by both sides, gives you a partial picture of the problem. I do not think that anyone who has not been here can even begin to understand it. So, Mr. Secretary, you may accept the best judgment of those [Page 428] who have been sent here for the purpose. Neither Chileans nor Peruvians have any conception of meaning of an election, even of simplest sort, and their estimates of time required, even though sincere, are worthless.
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- Pershing
- Von Tresckow