740.0011 Pacific War/1900: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Bowers)
176. From the Under Secretary. Your 266, February 14, 1 p.m. I am fully aware of the kind of impression this sort of pressure tactics from the Japanese make upon Rossetti.
You may state to Rossetti confidentially but officially that the statement that Japanese submarines are operating in Western Hemisphere waters south of the Panama Canal was an absolute falsehood. The assertions contained in the penultimate sentence of your telegram are typically boastful Japanese allegations which I believe will be fully disproved in a relatively short time.
I only hope that Rossetti’s replies to the Japanese Minister were as categorical as he has given you to understand.
I think it would be helpful for you on every possible occasion to reiterate in the firmest manner our determination to assist in the defense of Chile to the utmost extent necessary should any attack take place. [Welles.]