723.2515/3303: Telegram
The Ambassador in Peru (Moore) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 18—12:37 a.m.]
36. Your 27, March 16, 4 p.m.13 I am deeply grateful for your more than kind telegram, and I will certainly work—work day and night, if necessary—to bring about an early settlement.
I was in conference for an hour with President Leguia on Saturday, March 16, before he met Ambassador Figueroa. President Leguia assured me that he would tell the Chilean Ambassador that he was willing to accept a suitable port at any place selected by the Chilean engineers if an investigation by American engineers proved it feasible, and if it could be constructed for $3,500,000. He stated that he would select Mr. George Seeley, vice president of the Frederick Snare Corporation, of New York City, and his assistants as the Peruvian engineers.
Following his conference with President Leguia, Ambassador Figueroa called and thanked me for my assistance. He said that the President had told him what I have outlined above. The Chilean Ambassador was very happy and more than profuse in his thanks.
Later I saw President Leguia again and I explained to him the delay necessary in going to Arica by steamer. At my request he [Page 748] stated that he would send his engineers by airplane. Subsequently I saw the Chilean Ambassador a second time and he said he would request the Government of Chile to send its engineers by airplane also so that no time would be lost.
Mr. Seeley will examine the plans submitted to him by Figueroa on Monday. There is a possibility that they will take off for Arica on March 18 or 19.
At present Chile and Peru are closer to a settlement than they have ever been, and for the first time I feel that a real settlement will come. The American engineers state that a real port is not feasible at any of the places suggested by Chile. But even if subsequent investigation confirms this opinion, you should not lose hope as there is yet a way out—a real solution.
I desire personally to assure you that for the past six weeks President Leguia, Ambassador Figueroa, and I have been in accord. Both President Leguia and the Chilean Ambassador are more than anxious for a settlement. Both have some obstacles to overcome. Both understand what the United States wants. I have been preaching to them that a settlement of any kind will be a good one. To use a Wilson expression, I have intimated to these gentlemen that to be a satisfactory settlement, it must be a peace without victory.
- Not printed.↩