740.0011, European War 1939/28018
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The Chilean Ambassador9 called this morning. He expressed anxiety with regard to the manifesto published yesterday by ex-President Alessandri. He said he thought it was an appeal to the Chilean Army and was a clear indication that Alessandri was trying to make trouble of a serious character for the Government.
The Ambassador likewise expressed very serious concern at the delay involved, according to Mr. Bowers’ report, between the announcement by the President of Chile at the Cabinet meeting yesterday that he had decided to break relations with the Axis, and the [Page 798] special session of the Senate at which this action would be reported, which was not to be held until next Tuesday. The Ambassador said that this delay would afford the opportunity for much influence to be brought to bear upon the Senate, and that the only logical course for his Government to have taken was to have had the special meeting of the Senate today immediately after the decision of the President had been announced to the Cabinet.
- Rodolfo Michels.↩