835.01/300
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile ( Bowers )
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: Thank you for, your letter of March 14, 19445 with your explanation of Chile’s action in recognizing the Farrell regime in Argentina. Your views in regard to the events as well as the personages concerned were, as always, interesting.
Yesterday the Chilean Ambassador,6 called upon me to discuss the same situation. You will be receiving by the customary means a copy of the memorandum5 of my conversation with him. In this you will [Page 306] note that in my opinion the Argentine Government is now attempting to invoke the doctrine of intervention [non-intervention?] to protect itself while at the same time it pursues a policy of supporting the Axis Powers. Ambassador Michels attempted to explain his Government’s action as being due to haste. I replied that the Chilean Government is considered by other nations as most astute and consequently they would be slow to believe that Chilean statesmen would be intimidated by Argentina into hasty action. Moreover, I said that Chile appears to have placed itself in a false position and I expressed the hope that his Government would take every occasion afforded to destroy the bad impression created by its action. I think you should waste no opportunity to impress this point of view on the Foreign Minister, especially if, as you claim, he appears anxious to make amends.
I am of your opinion that no improvement would be gained by his being replaced by a member of the Radical party. However, I do not see that this is a matter in which we can intervene and while it may be hoped that he continues in office, the final decision on that is not in our hands.
I am at a loss to understand any feeling on the part of Fernández that he has been let down on understandings which he received in Washington. If there has been any letting down of late we are not the offenders. I have had the Department files covering his visit to Washington carefully reviewed and have reached the decision that officials here were scrupulously careful to avoid any commitments which have not been honored. I know I myself said nothing to the Foreign Minister which he could have misinterpreted. I sympathize with his having to report to his Congress in the near future with little that he may consider on the credit side of his ledger. However, in these tragic days his position is not unique.
In reading your letter and telegrams I wonder whether you have gone to sufficient pains to emphasize the gravity of our position. The United States is engaged in a titanic struggle for its very existence. Other of the American republics have met us more than half way and are sharing our burdens. While the Chilean people have given constant indications of their wholehearted sympathy for our cause and desire to aid us, I cannot honestly say that the record of the Chilean Government impresses me in an equally favorable light.
I of course look forward very much to receiving your impressions of our status vis-à-vis Chile, the difficulties which you envisage, and suggested remedies. Whether or not the Chileans appreciate it, we here in the Department have a deep interest in Chile and its problems. Naturally, under present conditions it is not possible for us to do all that they probably think we should. However, we will continue to try and trust that a sincere and helpful approach on our part will [Page 307] result eventually in a Good Neighbor policy in which Chile bears its share.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours,