810.20 Defense/342/12: Telegram

The Ambassador in Peru (Norweb) to the Secretary of State

58. Embassy’s telegram 56, May 24, 5 p.m. I saw the President late last evening. He assured me that the Peruvian Government was unreservedly [Page 158] prepared to cooperate to the best of its ability in the suggested conversations. He referred to Peru’s vital interest in the security of the Panama Canal and in the general problem of continental defence against any aggression and welcomed the farsightedness of the initiative taken by the United States. He understood thoroughly the necessary secrecy and said that he would treat the matter with the utmost care pending arrival of our representatives. In conclusion, he stated that if an emergency arose the people of the American Republics would be greatly encouraged by the fact that their governments had considered the danger and had taken cooperative steps in advance to meet it.

Norweb