825.00 Revolutions/210: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:55 p.m.]
214. With civil war a fact in the north and threatened in the south Blanche resigned today. The movement was dictated by the Conservatives who took advantage of the unpopularity of the military [Page 492] in politics to accomplish their purpose. For the time being the executive power is in the hands of Oyanedel who is weak and who was appointed president of the Supreme Court by Dávila. He is supposed to succeed constitutionally to the Vice Presidency under article 66 of the Constitution. A Cabinet may be formed during the night but now the Under Secretaries are in chargé of the Ministries. Confusion and uncertainty continue. The show is not over. Even my southeasterly colleagues are beginning to think that Chile is overdoing political instability.