Minister Fox to the
Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Quito, April 2,
1910.
No. 605.]Sir: I have the honor, in further reference to
department’s cable-graphic instructions of March 24 and my reply thereto
of April 1, to inclose herewith copies of notes exchanged between this
legation and the minister for foreign relations upon the subject of the
adjustment of the boundary line between the Republics of Ecuador and
Peru.
I have, etc.,
[Page 442]
[Inclosure.]
Minister Fox to
the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
American Legation,
Quito, March 30,
1910.
No. 182.]Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that I am in receipt of instructions from my
Government at Washington to state that the representatives at
Washington of Peru and Ecuador having requested on behalf of their
Governments that the United States consider whether it could not
take some action toward an amicable settlement of the existing
strain on account of the apprehension regarding the award of the
King of Spain on the boundary dispute, and the Government of Ecuador
having made such representations also through the legation of the
United States at Quito, the Secretary of State makes in reply the
following statement:
The present apprehensions appear based upon unauthenticated theories
as to what the award may be. The United States sees in the situation
no elements of danger which should not at once disappear if the two
Governments immediately concerned, heeding the wise counsels of
their friends and the dictates of their real interests, approached
the subject in a calm and conciliatory spirit.
It might suggest itself to the two Governments that upon mutual
assurance of a sincere adherence to this attitude they should
instruct their representatives at Washington, or at some equally
disinterested American capital, to discuss the question under the
auspices of the Government at such capital, and if able to find a
common ground for diplomatic adjustment of their question, that they
should request such third Government to inform the King of Spain
that happily they had reached a situation where they woud like once
more to attempt a direct settlement by amicable negotiation and to
request His Majesty therefore to withhold the award pending the
result of these negotiations.
I seize this opportunity, etc.,
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Fox.
Foreign Office,
Quito, April 1,
1910.
No. 13.]Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s very honored note, No.
182, dated March 30, 1910, in which you are pleased to inform me
that your excellency’s Government, at the suggestion of the
plenipotentiaries of Peru and Ecuador, has manifested the expediency
of both Governments arranging directly the boundary question, which
has been submitted for decision to His Majesty King Alfonso, by
means of the representatives which may be accredited to the capital
of your illustrious Government or of another friendly nation, a fact
which will be communicated by the mediatory nation to the royal
arbitrator, in order that the issuance of the award be suspended
until the two States may reach a definite solution.
The suggestion of your Government having been brought to the
knowledge of the chief of state, he authorizes me to say to your
excellency that he accepts it, recognizing that by such a proceeding
a proof of lofty Americanism has been given.
In expressing to your excellency in the name of the Government of
Ecuador its gratitude for such laudable effort, I assure you that as
soon as the opportunity offers this ministry will designate
representatives who may meet with those of Peru in order to put a
just and honorable end to the controversy over the boundary line
between the two nations.
Accept, etc.,
