325.1121 Bethune, Larry K./32: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson)

21. Department’s 20, April 3, 4 p.m.24 Chilean Ambassador suggested to the Department the withdrawal of your two notes regarding Bethune and of the Chilean reply quoted in your No. 33 of April 1, midnight. He was informed in reply that the Department was not in favor of withdrawing the notes but that provided the Chilean note is not published the Department would then agree not to reply to that note and would consider that phase of the matter terminated. Department again made clear that should the Chilean note be published this Government would then have to make a public statement regarding the matter. The Ambassador was also informed that the fact that we agree, under the stipulated conditions, not to answer the last Chilean note does not mean that the Department is no longer interested in the Bethune and Kaminsky cases, but that on the contrary the Department is very interested in seeing the whole matter satisfactorily settled.

The Chilean Ambassador is cabling his Government in this sense and urging that it agree thereto. The Ambassador indicated that he was afraid some publicity might be given by the President and he hoped the matter could be arranged on the above basis as soon as President Ibañez returns to Santiago tomorrow afternoon.

Carr
  1. Not printed.