723.2515/1345
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation with the Chairman of the Chilean Delegation (Aldunate), July 10, 1922
Dr. Aldunate called at the Secretary’s request. In the meantime the Secretary had been informed of the acceptance by Chile of the Secretary’s suggestion with the Peruvian qualification as to good offices, and this acceptance had been published.
The Secretary at once congratulated Dr. Aldunate upon this happy result and Dr. Aldunate expressed his gratification and spoke pleasantly of the assistance given by the Secretary.
The Secretary said that he had asked Dr. Aldunate to call so that he might take up with him the question of the choice of arbitrator. The Secretary said that he appreciated deeply the confidence expressed by both parties in suggesting that the United States should be the arbitrator, and that he did not desire that anything he might say should be taken as a lack of appreciation. The Secretary felt, however, that, if it were possible for the parties to agree otherwise, it would be better that the United States should not be the arbitrator. The arbitration would be a very laborious task. It seemed to the Secretary that it should not be undertaken by Government officials. The Secretary said that he thought the arbitrator should be a jurist. The Secretary said he understood that what was desired was American detachment and impartiality. The Secretary said that this could be supplied by selecting some distinguished American jurist, either as sole arbitrator, or as umpire of a board of jurists. The Secretary then suggested the name of Elihu Root. Dr. Aldunate said that the matter would be taken into consideration.
Dr. Porras called at the Secretary’s request following the interview with Dr. Aldunate. The interview was substantially the same as that with Dr. Aldunate.