725.34/16: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Sevier) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
65. Chilean-Paraguayan tension has increased to a disquietening extent due to intense resentment of Chile against recent anti-Chilean campaign in Paraguayan press of which the Department is aware. On August 2nd the Chilean Foreign Office made what it termed a friendly remonstrance to Paraguay. The Paraguayan reply was considered by the Chilean Foreign Office so unsatisfactory and, in fact, insulting, that last night a very strong note was telegraphed to the Chilean Legation at Asunción for delivery to the Paraguayan Government. This note, which the Embassy has seen, after rehearsing the situation, states as follows: “Together with presenting to Your Excellency a formal protest against the unacceptable scope of the note which I am acknowledging and not finding therein any trace which would signify a retraction of the unusual opinions and the imprudent offenses referred to, my Government has resolved to recall the undersigned diplomatic representative and leave the Legation in the hands of an officer in charge of the archives”.
The Foreign Office states that the Chilean Embassy at Washington has been fully advised in the premises with instructions to explain the situation to the Department. I have not been able to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs as yet but the political adviser at the Foreign Office who usually shares his views expressed a strong suspicion that for motives of which he was not clearly aware the campaign in the Paraguayan press against Chile is, if not inspired, at least countenanced by the Argentine Government.