Minister Fox to the Secretary of State.
Quito, September 10, 1910.
Minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador replies to notes of Brazilian minister and myself relative to department’s August 10, 2 p.m., by note of 28 pages, reiterating the position of Ecuador regarding direct arrangement and the Spanish arbitration as already stated in his note of May 24, stating that Ecuador has confidence in the mediating powers and desires peace, but that she can sign no protocol without the elimination of reference to Spanish arbitration. Minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador recapitulates, a translation of which follows:
- 1.
- The Government of Ecuador, since article 6 of the treaty of arbitration of 1887 is in force, had a perfect right to demand that her boundary dispute with Peru should be settled by means of direct arrangement, and for a greater reason, since the project of the unjust Spanish award is known, to resign herself to that would have been to accept the complete ruin of the nation.
- 2.
- Consequently the Government of Ecuador proceeded with all right and in conformity with its most sacred and undeniable duties in accepting the mediation conditions in the terms of the note of May 24 last.
- 3.
- The Government of Ecuador, while it asked that the protocol of Washington should be made to harmonize with the said note of May 24, only exercised an indisputable right, their attitude not implying any refusal of the humane principle of arbitration or distrust in the mediators or a desire contrary to peaceful actions, since we have given undeniable proofs of full faith in the honesty and impartiality of the said [Page 503] friendly nations, and we have complied, with exactness and accuracy, with all their suggestions toward avoiding war and seeking a solution based on equity.
Have advised Lima.