Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The American Republics, Volume V

825.014/60½

President Roosevelt to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

Washington, March 25, 1939.

Memorandum

In regard to Easter Island:

1. It is a definite possibility as a stopping place for trans-South Pacific planes, commercial or military.

2. It should, therefore, under no circumstances, be transferred to any non-American nation.

3. I doubt at this time the political wisdom of its purchase by the United States, and also the possibility of getting any large appropriation through the Congress.

4. Have you considered a different angle? Easter Island is unique in possessing remains of prehistoric men—the great recumbent stone figures which have never yet been adequately explained. No serious scientific excavation work has been done on the Island. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that it be preserved to science for all time. In this respect it is a little like the Galápagos Islands.⁶²

5. Would it be possible to tie up Easter Island and the Galápagos in a Pan-American trusteeship; the Islands to be preserved for all time against colonization and for natural science? Ecuador and Chile (if a reasonable sum could be arrived at) would be paid for the Islands over a period of years, the sovereignty to vest in the trustees; the trustees to protect them and prevent their use for military purposes. I do not like the idea of a lease. The payments would be made by all the American Republics over a period of years and in proportion to the total wealth of the Republics. This would put, of course, the greatest burden on the United States.

6. Cocos Island⁶³ could be included, for it has no military value to us but might have military value to a non-American power as a temporary base in war operations.

As I remember Easter Island, it has no harbor. Will you let me have some information regarding it? It may not even be available for sea planes or land planes.

F[ranklin] D. R[oosevelt]

62. See Foreign Relations, 1935, vol. iv, pp. 517 ff.
63. See ibid., 1938, vol. v, pp. 467 ff., and post, pp. 520–521.