724.3415/2974
The Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 23.]
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 1387 of February 20, 1933,67 and to previous despatches on the controversy between Chile and Bolivia regarding an embargo on shipments of arms through Arica, I have the honor to report that Chile is now freely permitting the transshipment of armaments through Chilean territory to Bolivia.
At the Foreign Office Señor Nieto explained that this change was decided upon for reasons of policy and not because the Chilean Government has in any way altered its position as to its rights to control shipments of arms to Bolivia under the 1904 Treaty.68 To quote Señor Nieto “This reversal of position was due to Chile’s desire to avoid becoming embroiled with Bolivia over the Chaco because of an arms embargo.” He went on to explain that the press and public opinion in Bolivia had become very embittered towards Chile and that they feared that the arms embargo if persisted in might provoke another Leticia incident. There was nothing, he said, to prevent a group of trouble-making Bolivians from coming down the railroad and taking one of the Chilean ports by surprise. I feel that this reason is a little far-fetched and that the true one is that Chile does not wish to bear alone the onus of an arms embargo. It may be also that trouble with Bolivia at this time would impair Chile’s effectiveness as a mediator in the Chaco dispute.
I understand that the bulk of the arms arriving at Arica are from European sources although airplanes and airplane parts from the United States have been among recent consignments.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩
- Signed at Santiago, October 20, 1904, Foreign Relations, 1905, p. 104.↩