810.74/381
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to
the Secretary of State
No. 3936
Santiago, July 17, 1942.
[Received July
27.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s No. 680 of June 13, 4 p.m., and subsequent instructions and
to my telegraphic reply
[Page 130]
No.
1170, July 17, 6 p.m.48 I
first presented orally the matter of closing Chilean telecommunication
circuits to the Foreign Minister and followed it up on July 13 with a
written communication to the Foreign Minister, copy of which is
enclosed, to which I received a reply on July 14, a translation of which
is also enclosed.
Taking my cue from the statement in the last paragraph of the Minister’s
letter that if we presented proof of the misuse of the communication
circuits the Chilean Government would take prompt action, I went to see
the Foreign Minister today and allowed him to see translations of
intercepted telegrams from the German Embassy transmitted over
authorized Chilean telecommunication circuits, which contained not only
information dangerous to hemispheric defense but proof of subversive
activities of the German Ambassador and members of his staff as well. A
copy of my oral remarks to the Foreign Minister is enclosed.48 It will be seen therefrom, and
from my telegram No. 1170 of July 17, 6 p.m., that he expressed himself
as convinced of there having been misuse of the radio circuits and
misuse of diplomatic immunities by members of the staff of the Embassy
and said that he was considering the matter with the President. He
referred to his inquiry whether prohibiting the sending of code messages
by Axis Embassies would be regarded in the nature of a solution by us
and expressed surprise that he had not received my communication to him
of July 13 in which I stated that such action would be helpful in
decreasing the dangers to our cause of maintenance of these circuits. I
have sent him a replacement copy of this communication.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure 1]
The American Ambassador (Bowers) to the Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Barros
Jarpa)
My Dear Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
refer to our recent conversation in which, under instructions from
my Government, I informed you that the telecommunication connections
which Chile maintains with Axis territory were being employed to
carry to the Axis Governments information of vital importance from
all parts of this hemisphere with respect to the movements of
individual ships and ships in convoys, and that we had confidential
information bearing this out.
I have now again been instructed by my Government to bring to your
attention the serious concern with which my Government views the
continued
[Page 131]
operation of
facilities whereby the enemy is able to interrupt the lines of
communication indispensable to the common defense of the American
Republics and to destroy the lives and property of citizens of these
Republics. My Government feels that shipping, which is just as vital
for the survival of Chile as that of the United States, is daily
being lost because of Chile’s maintenance of the channels through
which the Axis is provided information without which it would not be
able successfully to maintain its attacks on the vital
communications of the various American Republics.
In effect, my government has felt that the prompt action of nineteen
of the American Republics in severing direct communications with
territory under the control of the Axis is nullified to a large
extent by the fact that Chile and Argentina have not taken similar
measures.
Since our conversation, I have been informed by my Government that
the Argentine Minister of the Interior on July 11th issued
instructions that all of the provisions of Resolution No. XL of the
Conference at Rio de Janeiro shall be completely implemented. With
the execution of the instructions of the Argentine Minister of the
Interior, Chile would therefore be the only nation remaining in the
Western Hemisphere through which military intelligence detrimental
to hemispheric defense would be permitted to flow to the Axis.
My Government therefore asks me to convey its views that it is more
urgent than ever before that Chile undertake action to sever the
telecommunications circuits which it now maintains with Axis
territory since their continued operation would provide a channel
that might be used by Axis agents throughout the hemisphere.
Believe me [etc.]
[Enclosure 2—Translation]
The Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Barros
Jarpa) to the American
Ambassador (Bowers)
My Esteemed Mr. Ambassador: I have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication of Your
Excellency dated the 13th instant in which you refer to our recent
conversations concerning the use of telecommunication between this
country and those of the Axis.
Because of these conversations this Ministry has concerned itself,
with every interest, to consider with the Ministry of the Interior,
to which corresponds the taking of the measures referred to, the
best form of drafting them and assuring their efficient and
satisfactory application.
[Page 132]
Careful consideration will be given to the antecedents and points of
view which Your Excellency has expressed to me, for following with
the same interest the consideration of the matter in order to take
adequate measures which I shall shortly have the pleasure of making
known to Your Excellency.
I must also express to Your Excellency that, if there are sufficient
reasons to assure that, under the regime concerning
telecommunications existing up to now—which is not one of absolute
and unconditional liberty—it has been possible really to commit the
abuses to which Your Excellency refers and should this Ministry have
concrete antecedents respecting the matter, the application of the
corresponding measures and sanctions will be hastened.
Please accept [etc.]
