825.01/121: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2 p.m.]
199. Whelpley, President of Cosach, expressed the opinion yesterday that delay in recognition would help his negotiations with the Chilean Government. I told him that I had no recent information from you which would indicate your present opinion. I added, however, that since the Chilean authorities think they have complied satisfactorily with the conditions necessary to recognition I believed that it would be unwise to delay unreasonably long because resentment would increase and the resulting disadvantages of nonrecognition would more than overcome any advantages which he might gain in his negotiations from delay in recognition. He thought that the negotiations might last for a considerable time but in my opinion the early conferences will reveal the general trend of the negotiations.
Santiago representative of Grace & Company, reflecting the views of his principals, raised today the question of the relation between recognition and the validity agreements made with the present regime. Suppose a later recognized government raises the question concerning the validity of a Cosach arrangement made with the de facto authorities, what difficulties, he observed, would this cover in the way of subsequent diplomatic action, if deemed expedient?
Santiago representative of the United Press informed me this morning that the Minister of Interior expressed to him yesterday a sincere hope that the American Government might recognize before September 18 which is the Chilean Independence Day. It is customary to have various official festivities on that day and it is desired that the American and European Governments be officially represented.
Tendencies indicate that Dávila’s political position grows stronger.