723.2515/3328: Telegram
The Ambassador in Peru (Moore) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 10—6:23 a.m.]
63. The following memorandum commenting on the Chilean Government engineers’ report, transmitted in your telegram 41, April 8, 2 p.m., has been submitted to President Leguia by Engineer Seeley.
“This cable (41) refers to a telegram dated April 4th which was left at the Department of State on Saturday April 6th by the Chilean Ambassador.
According to reports the Chilean engineers, Lira and Quesada, had an interview with the President of Chile on April 3rd at which time it is to be supposed they rendered to him a report on the investigation made jointly with us at Arica.
We believe that this cable and the telegram which the Chilean Ambassador in Washington left at the State Department must refer to our original report on the San José location and is not an answer to our more recent report dated April 1st which was, we understand, not transmitted by the Chilean Ambassador in Lima to Santiago until Saturday, April 6th.
We would comment on this telegram in detail as follows: (Numbers refer to numbered points in Chile engineers’ report):
- 1.
- Altogether there were probably not over ten to fifteen soundings made along the stretch of coast examined. While it is very possible that these check up with data contained in charts, we do not believe that this is any indication that a port location exists at any of these points nor that it would in any way justify the construction of a port at any of these locations. We did not attempt to check any charts; our only object was to find a suitable location.
- 2.
- This would seem to bear out completely what we have already stated, that the closer one gets to the San José River, the more natural protection there is and consequently the less wave effect from the open sea.
- 3.
- We have at no time considered the construction of a port at the San José River location without the protection of breakwaters. These breakwaters, as designed, would be of similar construction to the one already built at Colon and while similar to those in Callao would be of heavier cross section and would be, we believe, amply heavy for the protection of any port built at this point.
- 4.
- While it is true that the San José location offers very little natural protection against storms coming from the north and northwest, it is in this regard no worse than any other point on the coast [Page 762] and is at the same time protected by nature somewhat from storms coming from the south or west, which protection does not exist at any other point between Arica and the River Sama. According to the Chilean engineers, storms from the north and northwest occur very seldom along this coast. If such is the case such natural protection as there is in the San José location would be of great advantage to this port during a very large portion of the time.
- 5.
- It is true that at the point named Yaradas there is one well which, when we visited the site, contained water. There is no way of telling what the quantity of water might be. The manager of the Tacna-Arica railroad advised us that this well was dry for probably three months of this year. Without having the water actually analyzed, we cannot say whether the quality is suitable for construction purposes and afterwards for town and port use. The water itself had a distinctly salty taste in which statement I believe the Chilean engineers will also agree. It is unnecessary to call attention to the fact that in the construction of a port a large amount and a constant supply of water is required for use in boilers, concrete, etc., and that after the construction is completed, a large amount and a constant supply of water is required for everyday use, the supplying of ships etc.
- 6.
- No stone suitable for breakwater purposes was found anywhere near the Yaradas location. The Chilean engineers agreed that stone for this purpose would have to come from the quarry behind Arica. In order to bring stone from there it would be necessary to transport this material over the branch line running from the quarry into Arica then transport it over approximately 24 kilometers of the Tacna-Arica railway and then over approximately 17 kilometers of a new railway construction which would have to be put in. The manager of the Tacna-Arica railway advised us that in accordance with their concession, they had the sole right for the transporting of goods between Arica and Tacna, and if any materials were transported over their line freight to them would have to be included. The rate which he gave us for this material over that portion of their line which would have to be utilized was ten (10) pesos per ton, which is the equivalent of approximately sixty five cents gold [$2.50]21 per cubic meter. He said that it was possible that through negotiations with their board of directors in London this rate might be lowered somewhat. I think it unnecessary to call attention to the fact that even though it were cut in half the total of this rate plus the other haulage charges would certainly increase by more than 10 percent the cost of stone brought up to this location. I believe there is very little question but that the increased cost of rock at this point would be at least twenty [fifty]21 percent over the cost of the same material at the San José site.
- 7.
- Instructions received from President Leguia were to report on the possibility of constructing a protective port north of the River Lluta and to see if this port could be built for approximately the same figure as the one at San José, having at the same time the same facilities [Page 763] which we had offered in our original report at a cost of approximately $3,500,000.
- 8.
- In this statement we agree. I would also add that we would not consider it proper from a construction standpoint.
- 9.
- This is quite true except that no statement was made by me that the port works at San José would result in a cost at least equivalent to Yaradas. I think the real answer to this is in our offer to construct a port at San José at a cost of $3,500,000.
- 10.
- No statement of this kind was made by me. There was no reason for a discussion of Ho as there is already a port there and there is no physical connection with Tacna.
In general we believe that this telegram does not refer to the report made President Leguia on our trip of investigation. Even though it did refer to this report, we see nothing in this telegram which is particularly different or contradictory to our report of April 1st. I see nothing in this telegram which points out a proper location or any statement that a proper port can be built at any location. There are certain statements criticizing the San José location. I think a general answer to this is that we would be willing to build and guarantee a port at that point while we would be very hesitant about doing so at any other location between Arica and the Sama River. Inasmuch as no one is infallible, we would be very glad to look over and report on any plans and definite projects which the Chilean engineers might propose. So far we have seen nothing in the way of definite suggestions.”