723.2515/1031: Telegram
The Secretary of State, on Special Mission in Brazil, to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received September 11—11:30 a.m.]
56. Following from Collier, Santiago:
“September 9, 4 p.m. For the Secretary of State. Antonio Huneeus, new Minister of the Interior and head of the Government, called on me Thursday night to ask that I support request which their Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro will make for 60 days extension of time for exchange of ratifications of Chile-Peruvian Protocol pending arrival of Aldunate Solar and his appearance before the Senate. Minister of the Interior gave as reasons the fact that original text of protocol was received here only one week ago; that Chilean delegation to conference supposing opposition to protocol would be insignificant went to Europe, and that action upon protocol had been paralyzed by ministerial crisis that lasted from August 4th when Senate by vote of 20 to 7 censured Barros Jarpa personally for his conduct of negotiations thus precipitating his resignation and that of entire Cabinet which however remained in office until August 29 owing to extreme difficulty in forming new Cabinet.
My reply was that extension could be granted only by other high contracting party; that the conference having ended I thought it possible you might think that we should not ask one to grant favor to another especially as an attitude of strict impartiality is necessary because of possibility of our arbitrating; also that I thought you would consider reasons given for extension as insufficient. In such case the practical question is whether delay would help ratification which is now very doubtful as Conservative Senators who first favored the protocol are swinging away from it. I believe Aldunate Solar their former leader cannot [can?] probably influence them as much by cable as by personal presence and that if we favor delay it might be considered admission of weakness in the protocol made upon your advice. We cannot put ourselves in that position. I expressed these views to the Minister of the Interior in two conversations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kindly report this to Acting Secretary or at least have him understand that no discourtesy is intended to him by addressing you directly so that you get this information before Chilean Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro attempts to see you.31 Will report in the future direct to Washington unless your instructions seem to require a reply to Rio de Janeiro.[”]
- The Secretary telegraphed the Department Sept. 11 that he had received no communication from the Chilean representative in Rio de Janeiro.↩