740.0011 EW/1–2645

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

No. 4697

Sir: I refer to the Department’s secret telegram no. 41 of January 12, concerning the importance of Chile’s formalizing its status by becoming a member of the United Nations. This matter is taking on added importance and, in order to present the need for early action and make his own stand clear and unequivocal, the President has considered it best to address personal letters in the premises to the Presidents of the six American republics concerned.

The letter addressed to the President of Chile is enclosed and you are requested to deliver it immediately to President Ríos. A copy is likewise attached for your secret information. Similar presentations are being made at Quito, Lima, Caracas, Montevideo and Asunción.

I wish to underline the fact that the highest importance is attached to Chile’s taking this step at the earliest possible date. I am confident that you will present the matter urgently and at the same time in its proper perspective.

Please submit a telegraphic report as soon as possible.

Very truly yours,

Joseph C. Grew
[Enclosure]

President Roosevelt to the President of Chile (Ríos)

My Dear Mr. President: I want to take this opportunity to tell you how tremendously helpful the generous contributions of Chile have been toward bringing the war against our enemies to its present stage. At this time all of us need to be thinking increasingly of the basic arrangements which will have to be made for the establishment, after the defeat of the enemy, of a lasting peace based upon a formal and permanent organization.

As you are of course aware, the creation of such an organization has already been extensively discussed and the time is rapidly [Page 759] approaching for the taking of far-reaching steps looking toward agreement at a full conference upon a definitive charter for a world security organization. In this connection the concept of the United Nations, as a symbol of unity for peace and progress and the juridical framework for the joint action of the peace-loving nations in the organization of the peace, as well as in the conduct of the war, is daily acquiring greater concreteness and importance.

At recent United Nations conferences there were representatives of nine nations, participating in the war but not signatories to the United Nations Declaration.67 Of these, one (France) has since changed its status by formally adhering to that Declaration. Of the remaining eight Chile is one. With the growing crystallization of the concept of the United Nations it is being increasingly urged that invitations to the coming United Nations Conference on world security organization should be limited to those nations which are signatories of the United Nations Declaration.

I consider it of the utmost importance that Chile which has contributed so much should sit in full membership at this Conference as one of the United Nations. I therefore take the liberty of bringing these considerations urgently to your attention and venture to suggest that your government may wish to consider the desirability of formalizing its present position by taking the necessary steps to becoming a signatory of that Declaration.

With kindest personal regards,

Very sincerely yours,

[
Franklin D. Roosevelt
]