Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1926, Volume I

723.2515/2380: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Collier)

[Paraphrase]

Washington, June 1, 1926—1 p.m.

99. Your No. 182, May 30, 5 p.m.

1. All factors required for dealing with whole problem in some definite way now seem to be before us.

(a) We have received reasonably complete reports covering actual conditions affecting plebiscite. These reports have been carefully reviewed and analyzed here. Mr. Stimson’s conclusions accord entirely with views you and General Lassiter have expressed. … Among persons who are in position to form unbiased opinion on facts, I have not been able to find any difference of opinion. Conclusion on issue of frustration is unanimous, outside Chilean circles.

(b) Respective positions of Chile and Peru on subject of settlement by negotiation have now been defined with practical certainty. Peru will accept neutralization or a bona fide Bolivian-corridor solution, and would possibly agree to transfer of entire disputed territory to Bolivia on terms to be arranged. On other hand Chile has indicated that she will not consider any solution which does not look to a division of the territory by which the bulk would be assigned to her, comprising everything that could be utilized for a corridor; thus she would be left free to make her own bargain with Bolivia. This attitude, which has been firmly maintained, absolutely blocks road to a negotiated settlement.

(c) Plebiscitary process has reached stage where it must be dealt with decisively. General Lassiter can no longer pursue Fabian policy without gravest consequences. He is insisting daily, with a justification which I cannot deny, that final program be outlined at once. His position has come to be virtually impossible. Action on his part is a matter of days, not of weeks. It must be realized that General Lassiter, as chairman of the Plebiscitary Commission, has his own heavy responsibilities. I do not have right to dictate to him. There are some things which I can not conscientiously ask him to do, and there are some things which it is probable that he would refuse to do if I made the request. General Lassiter has shown utmost patience and a disposition to cooperate, but I am bound to recognize that there is limit beyond which he cannot go; he has just about arrived at that limit.

2. It is amid these circumstances that you file an urgent plea for at least three weeks’ additional time and you request me to issue pronouncements which are boldly calculated to influence public opinion in Chile and thus to force modification of Government attitude. I can guarantee nothing as far as time is concerned. It is my honest guess that final crisis at Arica cannot be delayed beyond this week and it may come any moment. Edwards has already notified General Lassiter that he proposes to press issue for determination during present week. Undoubtedly he is acting under instructions. In matter of public statements, I am obliged to enforce distinction between statements of fact that you are to issue for purpose of correcting misunderstanding or misrepresentation of acts of this Government, and statements the only justification for which is to bring indirect pressure to bear on Government of Chile. The authorized statement which you issued to the press on May 31⁹ falls within first category. I am not disposed to go further, and I feel strongly that to go over the head of the Chilean Government and appeal to Chilean public is procedure which cannot be defended no matter how desirable end sought may be. I am inclined, however, to approve your suggestion with reference to Secretary Hoover, and I shall take up matter with him at once.

3. There is only one way whereby Chile can avoid disastrous consequences otherwise inevitable, and that is (1) by instructing Edwards to arrange with General Lassiter to hold up issue on plebiscite, and then (2) by modifying her intransigent attitude in the negotiations here in Washington. The Government of Chile will have to take both these measures quickly or it will have to accept full responsibility for consequences.

4. A message just received from General Lassiter¹⁰ states that Edwards has requested meeting of Plebiscitary Commission at earliest possible moment to fix date of election.

Kellogg

9. Not printed. Ambassador Collier was authorized to issue a personal statement on the declarations made between Sept. 1925 and May 1926 by the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Under Secretary which expressed a desire for settlement outside the plebiscite.
10. Telegram of May 31, 10 p.m.; not printed.