810.74/363a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Bowers)
796. The Argentine Minister of the Interior today issued instructions46 for the complete implementation of all provisions of Rio Resolution XL. When these instructions are carried out, Chile will be the sole remaining nation of the Western Hemisphere through which intelligence detrimental to continental defense is permitted to flow to the Axis. Consequently, it is more urgent than ever before that Chile take action to sever the telecommunication circuits which it now maintains with Axis territory. By continuing to maintain them it will in large part nullify the effectiveness of the action taken by the other American republics, since it will provide a channel that may be used by Axis agents throughout the hemisphere. Please bring this matter again to the attention of the foreign office and telegraph what measures, if any, have so far been adopted by the Chilean Government in accordance with the aforesaid resolution; and what reasons are advanced by the foreign office for failure to sever telecommunication circuits with the Axis.
In emphasizing to the foreign office the urgency of taking prompt action on this matter, you should avoid reference to the contents of the Department’s telegram no. 781 of July 9, 1942, 7 p.m.,47 regarding the possibility of action being taken by the companies in the same sense.