722.2315/1107
The Ambassador in Peru (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that in the course of a talk yesterday with Dr. Carlos Concha, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, he requested me to convey the following message to Mr. Welles:
He said that in connection with the Ecuadoran boundary dispute, he had instructed Dr. Francisco Tudela y Varela, before his recent departure for Washington, to seek to terminate the discussions along the lines of general principles and legal doctrine, and to commence discussing a practical solution. He said he thought the discussion of general principles had continued long enough and that the time had come for the respective emissaries to consider and endeavor to find a practical solution. He added that as he hoped the negotiations would now enter the final stage, he had instructed Dr. Tudela to keep in the closest possible touch with Mr. Welles and to consult him frequently and without reservation, as he was certain the Under Secretary could and would be glad to be of great assistance to both parties during the final stages of the negotiations.
[Page 56]Dr. Concha concluded by observing that he was about to make a determined effort to reach a final solution and that while the position thus far taken by the Ecuadoran Government made his task particularly difficult, he was not without hope that—with Mr. Welles’ assistance—an agreement satisfactory to both parties could be arrived at.
Respectfully yours,