701.2561/7–947: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
556. Vice President Cuevas4 yesterday urgently called to his office Soviet Ambassador Zhukov and presented formal Chilean Government protest against treatment being accorded Chilean diplomatic representation in Moscow.
Son of former Chilean Ambassador David Cruz Ocampo married to Russian has not been allowed leave Soviet Union with wife. Furthermore, Chilean Chargé d’Affaires Carlos Valenzuela and Military Attaché Colonel Armando Martin have systematically been refused assistance in obtaining living quarters or given any other facilities since arrival in Moscow. Chargé has been forced use room in house of young Cruz Ocampo and Colonel Martin has to sleep in quarters unbefitting his rank.
Since all Chilean Government protests to Soviet Government have remained unanswered, Vice President informed Ambassador Zhukov that Soviet procedure was inexplicable in view cordial treatment being accorded Soviet representation in Santiago. El Mercurio reports Vice President gave Ambassador Zhukov period 48 hours obtain from his government full explanation. If at termination this period satisfactory explanation not received Chilean representation would be recalled and Ambassador would be declared persona non grata and given his passports.
Government organ La Nacion only newspaper not carrying account interview; even Communist El Siglo gives mild version of incident. Foreign Office official, however, states press announcement substantially correct.
- Also Minister of the Interior.↩