723.2515/1747: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Collier) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:35 p.m.]
142. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has made public statement that:
“Owing to the impossibility of securing a change of the opinion formed by the President of the Commission, based upon information that Chile considers erroneous, concerning the expediency of holding the plebiscite without greater delay, Chile has been obliged to exercise the right of appeal given to it by the award against the resolutions voted in the session of Wednesday last. It believes that a detailed exposition before the Arbitrator of the manner in which the majority of the Commission proposes to apply the award will bring about a modification of the proceedings which, to Chile’s regret, have caused a suspension of the Commission’s activities in Arica. The exercise of the right to appeal is not unusual in legal proceedings. It gives the opportunity to defend national interests without implying disrespect for the Arbitrator. It is a fortunate circumstance which the Government notes with pleasure that the taking of this appeal may produce a truce in the plebiscitary activities that will offer to the government of Señor Figueroa the opportunity to take the course that he considers most consonant with national interest.”
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