825.00/1609
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
[Received February 10.]
Dear Mr. Welles: Rossetti gave a full exposition of the Rio Conference to the Council of Ministers yesterday and was warmly congratulated by his colleagues and by Mendez, who said that he had acted precisely in conformity with the instructions of the Government. I have heard much talk against Rossetti at Rio, and since it is evident that much of this is based on a lack of understanding both of his position and his power, I want to go on record on it.
- 1)
- Nine tenths of the public men of all parties in Chile including bitter enemies of Germany and warm friends of the United States, [Page 44] like Barros Jarpa,80 were absolutely opposed to breaking off diplomatic relations because of their coast line and vulnerability and their realization that they lacked the facilities to defend themselves against a surprise attack. Rossetti was miles ahead of nine-tenths in favor of complete cooperation with the United States.
- 2)
- He went to Rio under iron clad instructions of the Government and Congress backed by the press without exception. He could not violate his instructions.
- 3)
- Two days after the meeting began he was telegraphed by Pedregal that he was reported weakening on his instructions and that he should take an advanced stand upon them.
- 4)
- He telegraphed the Government asking release from the instructions, strongly urging that he be instructed to go along with sentiment in favor of breaking relations, which was overwhelming in the Conference.
- 5)
- As a result of his very strong representations, the Government then agreed to permit him to vote for breaking off relations provided it were stipulated that there should be ratification by Congress. In other words there would have been no agreement on this phase but for the fight Rossetti made.
- 6)
- The ratification’s hope is in the fight Rossetti will undoubtedly make before Congress. Remember that neither Ortega, Saenz, Mora, Bianchi or Alamos81 had the courage or enterprize to get a ratification for the agreements of Peru, Panama and Habana, and that, Rossetti went to Congress, made the fight, spoke and fought for four hours and got them all ratified. He is a powerful man in debate and very effective and I hope he succeeds in getting the Rio ratification promptly. He thinks he will. As a result of Rio sentiment is changing here; fears are dissipating because of the feeling now that we will help protect the Coast; and there is a general conviction that Chile cannot afford to stand aloof.
Juan Antonio Rios, the new President, attended the cocktail of the Chile-American Society for the visiting American journalists. I talked with him briefly. He is a tall, slender, fine looking man with iron grey hair and a fine eye, looking the President. However, he is not a genius or brilliant but he had good sound sense and is conservative in the better sense. He has not been favorable to breaking relations in the past, but since the Rio Conference he has taken no real position. Were he to intervene in Congress he could do much harm but I have a feeling that since action will be taken before he takes power he will stand aloof. I hope so.
[Here follows a passage of irrelevant characterizations.]
With warmest regards [etc.]