825.00 Revolutions/228: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:45 p.m.]
217. Soon after the present Chilean regime assumed power, that is on October 7th, I requested through the usual protocol channels of the Foreign Office an opportunity to make a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to present my personal respects. On the same day in an informal communication to the Minister I stated: “I have requested through Mr. Vicuna an opportunity to call upon you personally in order to present my respects.” No reply whatever was received either to my oral or to my written request. Today we made inquiries at the Foreign Office and were informed that: “The Minister is not disposed to receive the Chief of Mission of any country which does not recognize the present government.” It was further stated that the Minister would not receive me informally but only as an Ambassador calling on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of a constitutional government with which we continue the formal diplomatic relations which we maintained with the Montero government. In other words he will not receive me unless I admit my call is an act of recognition. The Minister has also refused to receive the British Ambassador and Chiefs of Mission of other countries who have not acquiesced in the theory of constitutionality which the present regime is trying to force upon us for internal political reasons. I have endeavored through several mutual friends to establish a friendly contact with the Minister in order to prevent his dogmatic attitude from creating an incident between the two countries. He has rejected my approaches and has indicated that he is not disposed even to discuss recognition. He said to one of these friends that he expected to obtain recognition from the American Government through the Chilean Embassy in Washington. About 4 p.m. I showed the above paragraphs to Mr. Figueroa, Minister of the Interior and Chief of the Cabinet. His attitude was conciliatory and he said that he would talk with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. About 6:30 Figueroa called me by telephone and said that the Minister for Foreign Affairs would receive me. Later the appointment was fixed at the Foreign Office for 11 a.m. Thursday. About the same time the Foreign Office advised the British Ambassador that the Minister for Foreign Affairs would receive him on Thursday.
A degree of political instability exists, encouraged by the military and extreme Left elements, but nevertheless I believe we will be justified to continue our discussions of procedure for recognition. We could [Page 495] exchange letters simultaneously. In my letter I could state the respect for international obligations which we expect from the Chilean Government. In his reply the Minister for Foreign Affairs can accept my declaration and add, as he probably will wish to do, that of course his government will respect its international obligations since it is constitutional. We can avoid in our communication any commitment on the fiction of constitutionality and date recognition from the exchange of letters. The Minister for Foreign Affairs can go as far as he likes in his reply into the refinements of constitutional law.
Something of this general character was suggested by the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs today to the British Ambassador.
I shall not discuss even procedure until I have your instructions, which I would appreciate having before my interview with the Minister on Thursday.