823.51/1282: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru ( Dreyfus ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:47 p.m.]
43. Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 37, June 3, 1 p.m., last evening I was able to confirm to President Benavides the substance of the Under Secretary’s conversation on May 31 with the Peruvian Ambassador, which had been already telegraphed to him by the latter.
The President said that in addition Ambassador Freyre had reported that the Department would be glad to receive duly qualified representatives to discuss the possibility of economic cooperation between Peru and the United States and that he would therefore send a commission to the United States for this purpose without delay. However, with characteristic petulance the President found fault that the invitation extended to Peru was different from the one to Brazil and Chile as Peru was told that “it could send qualified experts” while from the other two countries “specific officials had been invited.” He went on to say that in the case of Brazil he could understand this special courtesy because of our close relations but as for Chile he did not see any explanation for it remarking irrelevantly that the Chileans had been buying up their depreciated bonds in the open market, a practice which he understood was disapproved in the United States. I assured the President that in my opinion there was not the least intention at the Department to discriminate against Peru in any way. My explanation seemed to satisfy him drily in part.
[Page 776]Before I left the President said that he desired to express his appreciation to the Department for its very prompt action in this matter.