Office of the Historian

723.2515/2382: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul at Arica (Von Tresckow)

[Paraphrase]
Washington, June 1, 1926—noon.

For Lassiter. I have just received Mr. Stimson’s report8 and have arranged final conference with him and Mr. Hughes here Thursday for purpose of making definite decisions. If you are unable to avoid having a meeting of Plebiscitary Commission before Saturday, please postpone consideration of any resolutions which may be offered and take a brief adjournment.

Kellogg

  1. The report referred to is apparently the original one dated May 28, 1926. In this and the revised report dated June 3, 1926 (neither printed), Henry L. Stimson reviewed the evidence submitted to him by the Department of State and stated that he had come to the following conclusions:

    • “1. That a fair plebiscite within the definition made by the Arbitrator cannot now be held in the Province of Tacna.
    • “2. That the responsibility for this situation rests not only upon the local authorities of that Province but ultimately upon the National Government of Chile.
    • “3. In respect to the question of whether further guarantees should be demanded from the Government of Chile and a further attempt made to hold a fair plebiscite, I hesitate to express an opinion upon what is a question of policy for the Department. It is, however, perhaps proper to record the impression which has been made upon my mind by my reading of this evidence in respect to the practical working of the former guarantees in such a population as exists in this Province. From that aspect, considering the light which these records throw upon the political inexperience of this people—who have not had an election for forty years and therefore have no training whatever in the assertion of electoral rights; the docile character of the Peruvian farmer; the inaccessible valleys in which many of them live; the thorough foundation in intimidation which has been laid; the organization and character of the rural police and carbineers as well as the habitual attitude of the people to such officials—it has become my settled conviction that to attempt to produce a fair election by any further demand for guarantees, short of a complete reorganization of the local administration of law and order, under neutral authority, would only result in failure.” (File No. 723.2515/2364½.)

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