CHILE SEVERS DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR RELATIONS WITH JAPAN, STATEMENT BY TOMOKAZU HORI, THE BOARD OF INFORMATION, JANUARY 22, 1943
Despite the fact that President Rios of Chile has publicly espoused an independent diplomatic policy and repeatedly declared that his country would not submit to external pressure, the Government of Chile has finally succumbed to the strong pressure of the United States and has ruptured diplomatic relations with Japan, Germany and Italy.
In rupturing her diplomatic relations with the Axis by abandoning her autonomous stand, Chile has emulated the fashion set by Peru. From numerous precedents it is clear, however, that the step taken by Chile at this juncture, will not assure her such aids from the United States as she might expect. Moreover, by so doing not only will her very sovereignty be seriously
impaired by her submission to the United States, but also her present step will result in the loss of the considerate attitude hitherto shown her by Japan, Germany and Italy for the safety of Chilean shipping and in the abandonment on her own accord of her controlling position in the waters of the Pacific coast of South America. That this step would obviously be a great folly, throwing Chile as it does into a position of unprecedented difficulty, is clear to everyone.
It is not difficult to foresee that through this action Chile has taken after the fashion of such countries as Peru and Ecuador and that she will witness sooner of later the stationing of American troops in her own territory. If such a situation should come to pass it would mean nothing other than Chile's direct military aid to American troops—a development which the Japanese Government cannot but regard with the most serious concern. We hereby make it clear that all responsibilities for situations developing from the present rupture must be borne solely by the Government of Chile.