723.2515/2012: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 13—9:30 a.m.]
24. Embassy’s telegram number 23, March 12, 3 p.m.19 Received the following at 8:30 this evening from the President in writing:
“Memorandum by the President of Peru. The Government of Peru feels very much indebted to the Government of the United States for the explanation and interpretation, which the Secretary of State has directed you to kindly convey to me, of the term ‘good offices’ referred to in his previous memorandum,20 as well as in that of today’s date,21 and it is very gratifying to me to tender you my very best thanks therefor.
The nature and scope of ‘good offices,’ even in its widest possible intendment, would not protect one of the parties from aggression from the other, in case either of them should think that the aggression involves the best of all possible solutions for the question subject to the action of the good offices; and this is precisely what Chile, in my opinion, is aiming at, as intimated in my memorandum of 26th February last.22
Under the influence of such conviction, it would not be compatible with my conscience, however deferent I may wish to be towards the United States, to take any different attitude with respect to the recent offer than is contained in my aforementioned memorandum; but fully mindful of my duty to go at this time even beyond the limits of prudence with a view to secure a genuine and lasting settlement of the differences between Peru and Chile, I would be prepared to accept the good offices as now explained by the Secretary of State, provided that the same should entail the assurance of the United States that, whether the direct negotiations should result in an agreement or not, there shall be no war between Peru and Chile—in other words that the United States will not allow Chile to make war on Peru.”