Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

710.Consultation (3)/138: Telegram

The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State

Santiago, December 30, 1941—3 p.m.
[Received December 31—1:51 a.m.]

849. For the Under Secretary.… He [Rossetti] asked again that you see him before opening session to give him the opportunity to give you the Chilean outlook. He hopes that no resolutions, to which all the American nations cannot agree for reasons peculiar to their own situations, will be introduced since this might indicate to the public a divergence that would be unfortunate. He referred to the Central American Declarations of War.¹⁵ I gave him the impression that you are counting heavily on Aranha and himself which pleased him. I think that is what he wants and I hope you will see him and give him time to describe the Chilean situation since I feel positive that he is most eager to please us in every way at Rio.

Your telegram No. 631, December 24, midnight.¹⁶

2. He says that this is a general policy and that he wants no more Japanese, including diplomats, coming to Chile. The only exception would be should a Japanese diplomat be transferred to the Legation here who has not been declared persona non grata by any American country.

3. Your telegram No. 637 [638], December 27, 7 p.m.,¹⁷ last paragraph. He says I misunderstood him and that he did not request our reaction as he knew what it must be, and that he delayed his answer to the Japanese Minister pending the restoration to the banks of the money withdrawn by Japanese. Under no circumstances would he think of taking over the interests of the Japanese in any American country. In this connection he says Chile’s Minister in Tokyo is practically a prisoner and held incommunicado as are all the American diplomats, and that he is sending for the Japanese Minister to demand an explanation and in the event this is unsatisfactory he is determined to accord similar treatment to him and his staff. He says the relations of Chile with Japan are at the breaking point.

4. He admitted for the first time that there is a possibility that he may not be Minister after the new President¹⁸ comes in and says electoral situation is very confused though he is confident the Lefts will win. He says he is anxious to have Chile’s policy as it relates to the war made definite and so written in the record that any successor would find it painfully embarrassing to deviate from it one hair’s breadth.

Bowers

15. The Dominican delegation sponsored a proposal for a joint declaration of war. The reaction of the Central American nations seemed to be favorable but the South American countries were not inclined to support the proposal.
16. Not printed; this telegram asked whether it was Chilean policy to invalidate visas of all Japanese, including diplomats (825.111/100a).
17. Not printed; the Department indicated in this telegram that it deplored the idea that any of the American Republics might take over the interests of an Axis embassy or legation (740.0011 Pacific War/1427).
18. Juan Antonio Ríos.