862.20225/620
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegram of October 17, 5 p.m.,49 there are enclosed two copies of a memorandum entitled German Espionage Agents in Chile.50 This memorandum, the culmination of previous presentation of evidence to the Chilean authorities, is based on unquestionable evidence obtained by officers of this Government. It was handed personally by Ambassador Bowers to Dr. Barros Jarpa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chile, on June 30, 1942. After that date, for two months, the Government of Chile took no significant action to restrain the activities set forth in this memorandum, and a period of two months elapsed before any reference was made to this memorandum by the Chilean authorities to the Ambassador.
During September and October, and after the contents of the memorandum had been brought by Ambassador Bowers to the personal attention of the President of Chile, the Chilean Government has [Page 217] made a few arrests and seized one clandestine transmitter. In general, however, no vigorous or adequate action has been taken on the basis of the information contained in this memorandum or with regard to subversive persons and conditions well known both to this Government and to certain Chilean authorities.
Over a period of months, this Government has loyally and patiently drawn the attention of the Chilean Foreign Minister to these matters, all this time making no other use of this material, since although it was aware of the unusual conditions confronting the Chilean Government, it was confident that Axis activities in Chile would be adequately and promptly dealt with.
You are requested personally to present to the Foreign Minister of Brazil one of the enclosed copies of the memorandum presented on June 30 to the Foreign Minister of Chile. In so doing, you are requested to take the opportunity to explain orally and in full the circumstances set forth above. You will wish to bear in mind, during this conversation, the importance of stressing the fact that Mr. Welles’ recent public remarks concerning the tolerance of Axis activities by the Government of Chile51 were made only after this Government had sought to avail itself of all other means of obtaining the cooperation of the Chilean Government. In addition, you may find it appropriate to point out that the danger arising from the conditions referred to in this memorandum has to do primarily not with shipping to and from Chilean ports, but with the use of Chilean soil as a relay point for the transmission of enemy espionage messages leading to the sinking in distant waters of vessels of this and other American republics, and to the furnishing of information prejudicial to the defense of the Americas.
The Department will advise you by cable when the action contemplated in the foregoing paragraphs of this instruction should be carried out. It is important that no action should be taken until receipt of that confirmatory cable.
Very truly yours,