611.2531/168: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Philip)
3. Your 3 [4], January 8, 1937.
(1) You are authorized, on assurance of reply in like terms, to address to the Minister for Foreign Affairs5 a note, preferably in substantially the following language:
“I have the honor to confirm to Your Excellency my understanding, reached in our recent conversations in behalf of the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Chile, that the commercial agreement between the two Governments effected by exchange of notes, signed September 28, 1931, providing for reciprocal unconditional most-favored-nation treatment, shall continue in force notwithstanding the termination of the modus vivendi [Page 379] between Chile and France, signed May 22, 1931; Provided, That the treatment hereafter accorded by the Republic of Chile to the commerce of the United States shall at no time be less favorable than that simultaneously accorded to the commerce of France.
The present agreement extending the term of the agreement of September 28, 1931, becomes operative as of today’s date and shall continue in force until superseded by agreement between the two Parties or until terminated by either Party on written notice of not less than 15 days.”
(2) If Chile refuses indefinite duration for this arrangement, you are authorized to agree to a limited term, as suggested in your telegram, and otherwise to modify the above phraseology as may be necessary to obtain concurrence, provided the essential objective of unconditional most-favored-nation treatment is not interfered with.
- Miguel Cruchaga Tocornal.↩