810.74/347: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:42 p.m.]
1069. In reply to the question in the third paragraph of the Department’s 680 of June 13, 4 p.m., I am of the opinion that at this moment the Chilean Government would proceed to operate the circuits itself since it is not prepared at present to entirely cut off telecommunications with the Axis Powers. It is, however, apparently prepared to forbid code messages being sent over telecommunication circuits to Axis countries but is awaiting the Department’s reply to the tentative proposal to that effect, transmitted in my 1021 of June 22, 7 p.m. May I suggest that I be authorized to say that the Department thinks that the prohibition of code messages to Axis regions would be a decided step in the direction of continental defense.