723.2515/2293: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Collier)
80. Through Ambassador Poindexter I have been negotiating directly with President Leguía to obtain Peru’s consent to division of the territory, northern part to go to Peru, southern part to Chile, and a central corridor to Bolivia; details of the boundaries to be arranged during the negotiations. I am hopeful of success. I had a conference with Chilean Ambassador this morning, at which time Cruchaga said that he had received instructions yesterday from Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that latter did not regard congressional resolutions as ending good offices or negotiations and that he desired them to continue. Cruchaga was greatly relieved and spoke very hopefully of an ultimate solution. He said that of course best solution for Chile, in view of public opinion there, was to have division made in first instance, giving Tacna to Peru in accordance with present boundary fixed by Chile, which is line running north of railroad to Bolivian frontier, and giving all balance of territory to Chile, leaving latter to make its own arrangement thereafter with Bolivia so that credit for granting Bolivia access to the sea should be solely Chile’s. Advised Cruchaga that it was practically impossible to obtain Peru’s consent to this arrangement, but that we thought we could bring about agreement whereby Chile and Peru together should provide corridor for Bolivia. Whole point is that for plan to succeed Peru must share with Chile whatever credit may be gained with Bolivia through provision of the corridor. Cruchaga said that, while politically his plan would be best for Chile in future, he realized that there were political conditions in Peru and he would recommend to Chilean Government that entire question be settled in one negotiation which will include not only the Bolivian corridor, but the compensation, territorial or otherwise, to Chile and Peru, resumption of diplomatic and consular relations with Peru, a commercial treaty with that country, and the demilitarization of entire territory. Cruchaga attached importance to these additional features. He was reminded that time for registration would expire May 21 and that something would have to be done.
Suggestion was made to him that, if we were going to negotiate on foregoing basis, either there should be an extension of plebiscitary proceedings or they should remain in statu quo. I am not unaware that some time ago you stated that Chile would never give her consent to any arrangement which would prevent her from making her own exclusive and independent arrangements with Bolivia about a corridor. Understanding which I now have with Cruchaga and which he is to [Page 437] recommend to Mathieu is not in accord with that idea, but I think that Cruchaga understands that to reach settlement on that basis is quite impossible. We simply can not get Peru to consent.