800.6363/710: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:18 p.m.]
865. In view of the request for a repeat, it is thought that my 852, May 30, 11 a.m.44 was not clear to the Department and the following is clarification of that message.
Chilean officials were orally informed in accordance with the Department’s 556, May 20, 6 p.m.44 that all production at Talara which is not now allocated to Chile and Peru is urgently needed for military operations in the Pacific. The Minister of Commerce45 now desires that that statement be submitted in writing and that no objection be raised to the publication of such communication by the Chilean Government. It is his thought that the publication of a formal statement [Page 102] by the Embassy will serve to reconcile the Chilean public to the necessity of gasoline restrictions and stop the campaign of misrepresentation that the United States is withholding petroleum products in an endeavor to force Chile to break relations.
Please rush authorization to give this statement in writing and assurances of no objection to publication by the Chilean Government of our note.