723.2515/2276: Telegram
The Ambassador in Peru (Poindexter) to the Secretary of State
56. Your No. 46, May 5, 6 p.m. I have just had conference with President Leguía, who, although he declines to accept expressly a division of the provinces even in principle, is nevertheless willing to make an arrangement which would in effect amount to same thing.
The President told me that after a conference with leaders in the Government, their opinion was unanimous that an express acceptance, even in principle, of a division of the provinces would lead to serious political disturbances. … He points out, nevertheless, that he has already agreed to cession of a portion of Arica to Bolivia and he says that if you will call attention to that fact, which can not be denied, it in itself amounts to an agreement such as you propose.
On a map prepared by American cartographers the President pointed out to me the harbor of Vitor, south of city of Arica, which, he asserts, is better harbor than Arica, and which he would be willing to cede to Bolivia, together with corridor to Bolivian frontier, including the Arica-La Paz railroad. He says that all he desires is to avoid cession of territory occupied by Peruvian population and the historic fortress of the Morro at Arica. He explained that Bolivia would agree to the construction of a short piece of railroad from Vitor to point on Arica railroad a short distance east of city of Arica. He also said that he would be willing to have Chilean northern boundary moved from its present line, the Quebrada Camarones, to the Quebrada Vitor, joining the southern boundary of corridor proposed to be ceded to Bolivia. I call your attention to President’s repeated statement that for reasons of internal politics it would be necessary to frame proposal as cession to Bolivia rather than as division of the territory. …
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