Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1935, The American Republics, Volume IV

724.34119/37: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State

Buenos Aires, July 15, 1935—5 p.m.
[Received 6:19 p.m.]

130. From Gibson. In recent conversations with members of several delegations including the Bolivians, Brazilians, and myself, Saavedra Lamas has spoken of the possibility that Chile might “let Bolivia have a port near Arica”.⁶² He has even asserted that he “felt authorized” to say that Chile would be willing to take this step although he has been vague as to whether it would mean a territorial cession or only a free port.

I understand that Nieto del Rio, one of the Chilean delegates some time ago informed the Bolivians that Chile would be ready to negotiate a protocol extending and defining Bolivia’s transit rights across Chilean territory from Arica. It occurs to me that Saavedra Lamas’ assertions may be merely a distortion of this offer as it is hard to conceive that Chile would agree in effect to reopen the Pacific question. [Gibson.]

Weddell

62. See Foreign Relations, 1929, vol. i, pp. 720 ff.