723.2515/3342: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Peru (Moore)
48. The text of the proposed settlement has not yet been received by the Department except telegram No. 63, April 17, 8 p.m., from Ambassador Culbertson stating that the Government of Chile had on that day transmitted to its Ambassador in Peru for transmittal to the President of Peru certain suggestions to be embodied in the proposed settlement to be made by the President of the United States to both countries. There were eight suggestions. The last one was as follows: “(h) Chile and Peru shall not without previous agreement amongst themselves concede to a third party any part of the territory or alter the actual system of international railways.”
This afternoon the Bolivian Minister called on me and made an impassioned plea that the above-mentioned proposal be stricken out because it would work irreparable … injustice to Bolivia, closing the door forever on Bolivia’s aspirations for an outlet to the sea. He said that Bolivia’s only hope was in the United States.
As you know the Government of the United States has consistently taken the position that it could not bring Bolivia into the negotiations with Chile and Peru without the request of those countries; and, while the Government of the United States has always stated that any agreement for a settlement of the Tacna-Arica question would be acceptable to it, it naturally understood that no such arrangement would be inimical to the interests of third parties.
In view of the fact that Chile and Peru desire this suggestion to come from the President of the United States, you will readily appreciate the delicacy of the situation. The Government of the United States has left the negotiations entirely in the hands of Chile and Peru, and it has been most gratified that those countries have about come to an agreement; but, as that agreement is then to come from the President of the United States, and a third country has made a vehement protest against one of the reported provisions therein, a country with which the Government of the United States maintains and has always maintained the friendliest relations, it is of the utmost importance that the Department be immediately informed of the exact text of this proposal. Please telegraph the exact text as soon as possible. Also, discreetly explore the situation to ascertain how much importance is attached to it by President Leguia and by Chile, as the Government of the United States, in the light of its present information, would not be prepared to make a suggestion containing such a stipulation.