723.2515/2060: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Collier)
32. Your No. 45, March 26, noon, was complete surprise to me, as Chile has indicated through you again and again that she desired a settlement outside plebiscite and we have no fewer than three unqualified acceptances of good offices as tendered by this Government, the latest on March 16. Of course, I appreciate that acceptances are revocable, but revocation of acceptance of good offices at this time by Chile would discourage any future efforts and would probably make reaching of any adjustment impossible. It is not possible to carry on within 15 days the negotiations which are to settle a dispute of 41 years’ duration.
I shall notify Lassiter at once that agreement for acceptance of good offices is not yet complete, as I had supposed it to be. It is improbable that he is prepared to go ahead today with registration.
Chile must understand, of course, that Lassiter has gone ahead with matter with great reluctance, as he has abundant evidence that Chilean authorities have failed to maintain conditions conducive to fair election, and that the Commission is likely at any time to so declare. In view of what you quoted from Mathieu in your No. 40, March 22, 3 p.m., I do not understand his attitude now. We have followed his suggestions exactly. Under the circumstances, we had better have answer of Chilean Government in writing at earliest moment possible.