825.014/90: Telegram

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

840. Reference my urgent telegram No. 824, May 5, 2 p.m. In interview with Foreign Minister yesterday I offered to make press statement denying our occupation of Easter Island if he desired. We [Page 819] agreed that this would be unnecessary as Chilean Minister of Defense has already made such a declaration and Fernández also intended making one.… Fernández displayed same attitude and said that he could understand that if we heard the Japanese planned to take Easter Island, we might have taken it to beat them to it. However, he naturally would expect prior consultation with Chile.

The Foreign Minister told me that the President is much annoyed with the sensational manner in which La Opinion printed the news story and that Mery, the Director, would be prosecuted. Press today confirms this stating that legal proceedings have been initiated by the Government against the responsible directors of La Opinion for publishing false information and violating the security law. The press also gives prominence to categorical statements of Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs that the news was totally inexact. The press story indicates that the Chilean Naval Commander-in-Chief immediately communicated with the Governor of Easter Island, confirmed that all was quiet there. No editorials have appeared on the subject, the press apparently not considering it worthy of this attention.

Bowers