723.2515/1337
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Chilean Ambassador (Mathieu), June 22, 1922
The Ambassador called at his own request. The Ambassador said that he was glad to be able to tell the Secretary that his Government [Page 481] had instructed him to say that the Secretary’s suggestions for the settlement of the controversy were acceptable and that the Chilean Government was ready to proceed accordingly. The Chilean Ambassador briefly recapitulated them (they were in the same sense as stated in the Secretary’s memorandum of his interview of June 17).
The Secretary informed the Ambassador that he had had a talk with the Peruvian Ambassador on the subject, but did not disclose the purport of the conversation. The Secretary expressed his appreciation of the attitude of the Chilean Government and his gratification that the matter had progressed to this point. The Chilean Ambassador indicated that his Government had placed in his hands a considerable measure of discretion. The Ambassador said that it was a very difficult point for his Government to reach, because they had all along insisted that there was no question but the way of holding the plebiscite; that this was a very forward move on his Government’s part which pleased him. The Secretary said that he would have further conversation with the Peruvian Ambassador and then immediately see the Chilean Ambassador.