740.0011 European War 1939/27230: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:44 p.m.]
102.
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Quite thoroughgoing preparations have been made by the Chilean Government to prevent any totalitarian activities on announcement of rupture. The Ministry of Interior has confidentially furnished us with a list of 1114 Axis nationals who are to be arrested immediately. I understand that many arrests will be made in advance of rupture, even beginning today. Thirty secret agents with sealed orders are being sent to all prefects with lists of local suspects for apprehension, and the prefects have been told that if they divulge these lists they will be subject to maximum punishment. The Ministry of Interior list of dangerous Axis nationals is larger than ours. We have already heard from our people in Valdivia that effective advance steps toward the security of the district are being taken.
If, as I anticipate it will, the Government takes quite effective measures against Axis nationals and organizations operating in Chile, I think we should be prepared to have approving editorial and other comment sent by the press services to the Chilean papers, for such compliments will spur the zeal of the Government. Apart from the question of Chilean Government action against totalitarian organizations and nationals here, I think there should be a good burst of editorial praise of Chilean action in the States—forgetting the fact that it comes later than that of the other American states. Tepid editorial and official comment in the States on Chilean rupture with the Axis would leave a scar on our relations.