723.2515/933: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Peru (Sterling)
44. Your telegram no. 44, May 21, 9 p.m. You are instructed to inform President Leguía of this Government’s great disappointment over the Peruvian Government’s action in bringing forward the contention that the Treaty of Ancón has been nullified by the nonfulfillment of certain of its clauses. The delegates of both Peru and Chile were invited to come to Washington for the purpose of discussing the unfulfilled portions of the treaty, following Peru’s express disclaimer, in her last direct communication with Chile, of any desire to submit the consequences of the War of the Pacific to arbitration. It is difficult to see how the stand now taken by Peru can be regarded otherwise than as an attempt to reopen the whole question of the results of that war. You will again recall, in this connection, the assurance given by the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs in your telegram of January 19, 7 p.m., that the Government of Peru would not insist on the revision of the whole treaty.
The Government of the United States is convinced that the Government of Peru, by its insistence on the position taken regarding the nullification of the treaty will not only jeopard the success of the present conference but will make very difficult any agreement between Chile and Peru for the arbitration of their differences should the present conference fail. The Government of the United States feels compelled to state to the Government of Peru that it could not be expected to use its good offices for the purpose of bringing about such an agreement, if the Government of Peru persists in maintaining its stand, which is felt by this Government to be entirely inconsistent with the understanding upon which this Government based its invitation last January and upon which the Chilean delegates came to the conference. As it has already said, this Government feels that upon Peru alone the responsibility would rest for the failure of the present effort to bring about an understanding.