740.0011 Pacific War/755: Telegram

The Ambassador in Chile ( Bowers ) to the Secretary of State

705. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary. Your circular telegram triple priority December 7 and my telegram No. 704, December 7, midnight.29

Saw Rossetti30 this morning. He promised a public statement some time this afternoon on Chile’s position but authorized me to inform you that Chile is in absolute accord with the United States and will fulfill its agreements as to the common continental defense to the fullest extent. He says there are about 700 Japanese in Chile some in Santiago and Valparaiso and some in the north and that these are now being very closely watched. The plans for the protection of mines et cetera against sabotage had been worked out in detail before and have now been put into effect fully.

He goes to Mendoza this week to meet the Argentine Minister and sign the protocol for fortification of the Straits. The material now here was sent to that region while negotiations were still on and in anticipation of their success. He says in the conversations at Mendoza he proposes to try to wean Argentina away from her present semi-hostile neutrality and to persuade both Argentina and Peru to come out strongly with Chile and Brazil.

Bowers
  1. Latter not printed.
  2. Juan B. Rossetti, Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs.