825.34/366
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Chile ( Frost )
Sir: Reference is made to despatches numbers 780 and 781 of July 19, 1939,69 reporting a suggestion from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chile that a possible “leasing arrangement” concerning Easter Island might be made between the Governments of Chile and the United States in connection with possible construction of cruisers for Chile on favorable terms in the United States. The construction of cruisers is understood to refer to House Joint Resolution 36770 which was being considered in the Congress of the United States at the time of conversation.
In view of the fact that H. J. Res. 367 failed of passage in the Senate prior to adjournment of this session of the Congress, statutory authorization has not been given for this Government to extend assistance to the Governments of the other American republics to increase their naval establishments by arrangements for construction of vessels of war in shipyards under governmental jurisdiction in the United States.
With respect to the leasing of the. island under reference, it will be recalled that the President in his message to the joint session of the two houses of Congress on January 3, 1934, in referring to the work of the United States Delegation to the Seventh International Conference of American States at Montevideo, made the following statement:
“We have, I hope, made it clear to our neighbors that we seek with them future avoidance of territorial expansion and of interference by one nation in the internal affairs of another.”71
Furthermore, for your information, the Secretary of State in commenting on House Resolution 5378 “To authorize the President to enter into negotiations with the Republic of Ecuador for the acquisition of the Galápagos Islands” stated on April 7, 1939, the present policy of this Government in the following terms:
“It is understood that the Chief Executive does not believe that it would be in the public interest for the Government of the United States to acquire the Galápagos Islands. I may add for the information of the Committee, however, that although this Government is not itself interested in acquiring the islands, any endeavor on the part of any non-American power to purchase or lease the islands or to use any part of them for a naval, military, air, or even a commercial base, under whatever terms, would be a matter of immediate and grave concern to this Government”.72
It is believed that the above remarks apply with equal force to Easter Island.
You are therefore authorized, in your discretion, to state orally to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chile the above-mentioned facts concerning the present status of House Joint Resolution 367 and also the general position of this Government that it is not deemed to be in the public interest for the Government of the United States to undertake at this time any arrangement such as has been proposed for the leasing of Easter Island. You are further requested in such a conversation to make known to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the deep appreciation of this Government for the interest shown by him in this matter.
Very truly yours,