825.30 Missions/12–544: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:59 p.m.]
1889. My 1824, November 23, 2 p.m. Returning late last night from the Foreign Office to his hotel, Fernández met Brooks57 in lobby and in conversation with him volunteered the information that he had again rejected Great Britain’s overtures to accept a British Naval Mission to work with Chilean Navy. The Minister said he was opposed to such mission but that he wanted and would approve a United States Naval Mission. He said that since Chile and the United States are the predominant naval powers on Pacific, their navies could collaborate in protection of coast of American continents. Since he favors making available to us a large naval base in the Straits of Magellan and it would therefore be undesirable to have a British Mission in Chile, my own opinion and that of our Attaché [Page 691] is that we should offer such a mission and that we will make a mistake if we do not. Wright58 concurs a mission should be sent.