723.2515/3204½
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
The Chilean Ambassador called on the Secretary on Monday afternoon, October 1, at the Secretary’s request. The Secretary stated that he had been giving careful consideration for some time to the boundary question matter. He stated that he had been afraid, when there had been difficulties in the past and especially now that a more friendly spirit existed between both Governments and peoples, that something might happen over the boundary matter which would make the definitive settlement of the Tacna-Arica question more difficult. He added that he was very much encouraged from what he had heard from the Ambassador and also from our Ambassador in Chile and from messages he had just received from Ambassador Moore that a settlement could soon be arranged. The Secretary thought the prospect was much brighter now than at any time in the past and, this being so, he was especially anxious that nothing should occur now to interfere with the settlement. He, therefore, thought that the suggestion made by the Chilean Ambassador some time ago, that this question be settled by adjourning the work of the Commission until the whole problem could be disposed of, was a very good one.
The Secretary stated that there were two ways in which this could be done: the work of the Commission could be suspended while the two Governments attempted by direct negotiations to settle the boundary, or else it could go over entirely pending a definite settlement of the Tacna-Arica question. The Secretary thought the latter the best because the discussion over the Tarata boundary might possibly cause some feeling which would make the other settlement more difficult and, if the other settlement should be made, it would automatically solve this boundary question.
The Ambassador stated that he fully agreed and he thought it would be much better to suspend all operations for some time in order to give the Governments a chance to arrive at a settlement. He inquired whether the Secretary had any news indicating that Peru would accept a division of the territory. The Secretary said that he did not; that he had merely strictly confidential information from Ambassador Moore that the President would like to make a direct settlement with Chile when the renewal of diplomatic relations becomes effective, and that the agreement reached could then be submitted to the Arbitrator for his approval. Ambassador Moore did not indicate anything else except that there were certain other points in connection with the settlement which President Leguia wished him to discuss with the Secretary upon his arrival here.
[Page 663]The Ambassador stated that he was most sanguine that a settlement would be made and he hoped within the next two months, and that he would immediately telegraph his Government regarding the Secretary’s suggestion. The Secretary, for his part, said that he would immediately take the matter up with the Chargé d’Affaires in Lima and also with Ambassador Velarde here to obtain the consent of both Governments for a disposition of the matter.