825.5151/82
The Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State
No. 1374
Santiago, February 7, 1933.
[Received
February 16.]
Sir: With my despatch No. 1366 of January 25,
1933, I enclosed a copy of a Memorandum of January 24, 1933, in which I
reviewed for the information of the new Foreign Minister, Mr. Cruchaga,
many of the problems long outstanding between this mission and the
Foreign Office. Since all of these matters have become hopelessly
involved in delays, evasions and unfulfilled promises and we were making
no progress I determined to adopt a different policy of dealing with the
Foreign Office. Accordingly, instead of presenting these matters in a
general way as has been the practice in the past in the expectation of
achieving better results by informal instead of formal negotiation, I am
now taking up the pending questions individually and asking in each
instance for some specific action or decision. My viewpoint in this
respect is set forth in Note No. 955 of February 3rd, 1933, a copy of
which is enclosed for the Department’s information. At the same time I
am transmitting copies of two other communications11 recently
addressed to the Foreign Office seeking action or solutions in two
issues that call for prompt attention. It is my expectation that after
taking up these matters directly and personally with the Foreign
Minister and having arrived at a decision as to what can be done he will
then delegate the working out of the details to some member of his staff
with whom we can deal directly in finally disposing of the matter.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure 1]
The American Ambassador (Culbertson) to the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Cruchaga)
No. 955
Santiago, February 3, 1933.
Excellency: In a memorandum dated January
24th I brought to Your Excellency’s attention a series of problems
which have been pending for a long time between the Chilean
Government and this Embassy. This memorandum did not raise the
fundamental issues
[Page 113]
for
which sooner or later solutions will have to be found. It merely
presented problems long pending for which relief can be given
without prejudicing Chile’s economic position but which have
remained unsolved largely because of the unsympathetic attitude of
certain agencies of the Chilean Government or because, acting
through the normal channels of diplomatic intercourse, it has been
impossible to obtain the co-operation from other branches of the
Government necessary to the carrying out of agreements arrived at
with the Foreign Office. For more than a year we have met with
evasion and delay or at best with apologies that one branch of the
Chilean Government is unable to obtain action from another.
Decisions adverse to American interests have been prompt and
definite; decisions for American interests which should follow in
the simple course of administration have been put off or rejected.
In short, effective relief to American interests has not been
given.
It is earnestly hoped that this policy will be changed. Your
Government can, if it desires, settle immediately the cases of
re-exportation and bank deposits; it can see that a satisfactory
settlement is made with individuals having the right to withdraw
their retirement funds from the Caja de Retiro; it can place
restraint upon the unjust decisions against American interests in
the Labor Tribunals; it can adjust equitably the tariffs of the
American-owned public utility companies; it can grant relief to the
American-controlled copper companies which are struggling to keep up
production in the face of a serious world situation; it can instruct
the Treaty Commission to consider the interests of American trade
pari passu with the interests of the
trade of other countries and submit in the near future a basis for
the exchange of notes in reply to my formal communication No. 903 of
November 9, 1932.
I have felt it desirable and necessary to bring these points to your
attention since it is quite clear that it is no longer in the
interest of good understanding that I withhold a frank statement of
the situation. We have reached a place in the relations between the
United States and Chile when we must expect more than vague
assurances which remain unfulfilled. With the many demands upon your
time I naturally desire to avoid burdening you with what should be
essentially routine matters but, since for one reason or another,
these questions are still pending after months of negotiations I
have no other recourse but to ask Your Excellency’s personal
interposition and assistance in reaching a final and definite
disposition of these longstanding problems.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Page 114]
[Enclosure 2]
The American Ambassador (Culbertson) to the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Cruchaga)
No. 953
Santiago, January 31, 1933.
Excellency: I have been somewhat disturbed
to note that the press continues to report discussions in the Treaty
Commission concerning commercial arrangements with Germany, Belgium,
Italy and Cuba, although no suggestion appears therein concerning
similar arrangements with the United States.
In this connection you will recall that in my Note No. 903 of
November 9, 1932, my Government requested equivalent treatment and
no doubt the Commission now has before it this request. The position
of my Government on this question was also briefly outlined to you
in my memorandum of January 24, 1933. I sincerely hope that the
consideration which I assume the Treaty Commission is now giving to
the above-mentioned request of my Government will help it to advance
toward a solution of the question of equivalent treatment in respect
to my Government pari passu with the
consideration which it is giving to the commercial relations of
Chile with other countries.
You are of course aware that no discriminatory restrictions are
placed on Chilean trade in the markets of the United States. Your
country is therefore receiving the maximum treatment in the American
market which you can hope to receive from other countries with which
you are negotiating compensation agreements. In considering the
position of American trade in Chile my Government looks to the
results obtained by other countries and asks for equivalent
treatment. Whether the arrangement between our Governments will take
the form of an exchange of notes or some other form can be
determined as the discussions proceed. It need scarcely be added
that my Government expects that the problems of American commerce
will be considered along with the problems relating to the commerce
of other countries and in fact confidently expects that they are so
being considered by the Chilean Government.
I would appreciate an indication from Your Excellency as to when it
would be convenient for you to enter into conversations looking to
an arrangement on this matter.
I avail myself [etc.]
