Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

835.00/2509: Telegram

The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State

Santiago, March 3, 1944—midnight.
[Received March 4—9:10 a.m.]

406. Attention Bonsal⁷⁴ and Lyon.⁷⁵ Following conversation with Bonsal this evening the Counselor⁷⁶ again spoke with Fernández⁷⁷ and pointed out, without criticizing directly Fernández’ action in ordering his Ambassador in Buenos Aires to acknowledge the Argentine Foreign Office’s notification of Farrell’s accession to the Presidency, that this action would be interpreted in the States as a break in the practice of continental consultation. Fernández argued that consultation did not enter into this situation since Farrell’s accession was apparently a legal succession particularly in view of the fact that Farrell had announced he would follow out Ramírez policy of continental solidarity against the Axis. He said that if there were any change in the situation there that Chile would immediately engage in consultation with us, but until a change in the Argentine situation did occur, there was no ground for delay and consultation. He asserted that the acknowledgment of Farrell’s accession was purely conditional and, lie argued, an action of no significance. In a later conversation Fernández said that it would be impossible to delay the delivery of the note of acknowledgment of the Argentine Foreign Office since arrangements for its delivery at noon tomorrow had already been made and were known.

During the evening the Chilean Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs⁷⁸ made a statement to the press to the effect that the President⁷⁹ and Minister for Foreign Affairs for Chile considered that the Government of General Farrell is a continuation of that over which General Ramírez was presiding and therefore there was no occasion for a declaration of recognition or non-recognition of that Government.

He added that the Foreign Minister had said that General Farrell’s statement this morning that he would continue the foreign policies of Ramírez had made an excellent impression in Chile and had been received with satisfaction.

Repeated to Buenos Aires and Rio.

Bowers

74. Philip W. Bonsal, Deputy Director, Office of American Republic Affairs.
75. Cecil B. Lyon, Acting Chief, Division of West Coast Affairs.
76. Donald R. Heath, Counselor of Embassy.
77. Joaquín Fernández Fernández, Chilean Minister for Foreign Affairs.
78. Marcelo Ruiz Solar.
79. Juan Antonio Ríos Morales.