723.2515/708a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Peru ( Gonzales )
6. Peruvian Ambassador informs me that press despatches emanating from Chile assert that Secretary Colby stated while in Argentina38 that the United States will maintain an absolute hands-off policy in the controversy between Chile and Peru, and would not offer its good offices towards a settlement of the controversy unless invited by the two governments. Pezet also says Chile hails this declaration of policy as an acceptance of the Chilean contention that the United States should not interfere in the affairs of South America.
I am confident that Secretary Colby has not said anything more than I have stated to the Peruvian and Chilean Ambassadors here. To the former I have stated that while our relations to Peru are unusually close, this Government must be impartial in all controversies in South America, and that while we are most desirous of being of any assistance to Peru we can only support Peru’s contentions to the extent that they may, in our judgment, be justifiable. I have also stated to him that it does not increase our ability to assist in the controversy between the two countries by creating the impression that our friendship towards Peru would cause us to support any unjust Peruvian claims, which creates the wrong impression in Chile and a fear to accept any plan of arbitration we might propose.
To the Chilean Ambassador I have stated that while this Government is most desirous of a settlement of this long-standing controversy [Page 238] and of rendering any service to that end, we are impartial and have not formulated any definite views as to any actual terms of settlement; also that we would not impose our good offices into [sic] the controversy, at least unless situation should become acute. The Chilean Ambassador told me that he was hopeful that his country would realize the impartial position of this Government and that the situation may then develop whereby his Government could accept mediation, or a mission may be provided in this hemisphere for the arbitration of this question without calling upon Europe or any other powers outside of this hemisphere. I suggest that you call on the President of Peru and repeat our position, and tell him not to be disturbed by any unfounded press report.
- For papers relating to the visit of the Secretary of State to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, see ibid., pp. 228 ff.↩