Office of the Historian

810.20 Defense/679/24a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Bowers)
Washington, June 7, 1940—4 p.m.

94. From the Under Secretary. The Chilean Ambassador called this afternoon to say that he had been instructed by his Government to inquire whether a press report published in Santiago alleging that I had had a conference in the Department of State with the Ambassadors of Argentina and of Brazil, and the Minister of Uruguay to consider problems of continental defense was accurate.

I told the Ambassador that the report was absolutely unfounded, that no such conference had taken place, and that no suggestion had been made that such a conference take place.

The Ambassador gave no indication that he had any knowledge of the secret conversations which are to take place under your auspices in Santiago. I naturally made no mention of them.

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  • [Welles]
  • Hull