722.2315/1210: Telegram
The Chargé in Peru (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:49 a.m.]
65. The Minister for Foreign Affairs handed to me at midnight a note reading in part as follows in informal translation: [Page 228]
“On this date my Government has given instructions to its delegation to the Peruvian-Ecuadoran Boundary Conference holding its sessions in Washington to suspend the negotiations which, in accordance with the Protocol of June 21st, 1924, have been carried on in Washington.
The Government of Peru has seen itself obliged to take this decision in view of the insistence of the Ecuadoran delegation in placing the negotiations outside the terms of the pact which gave them birth. You will recall that the Castro Oyanguren–Ponce protocol24 establishes in its first article an eventual and partial arbitration by the President of the United States and that it does not anywhere contemplate the formula of integral arbitration upon which the Ecuadoran Government has recently insisted, according to the communications of its delegation dated August 20th last.
The attitude of my Government has also been influenced by the fact of having an invitation from the Ecuadoran Government to discuss the boundary controversy directly in Lima, the point having been reached where juridical or other reasons delay or prevent a friendly understanding in Washington. This eventuality having occurred, which the Ecuadoran Foreign Office, with an admirable spirit of foresight, was able to foresee, the Government of Peru accedes to the suggestion received, disposed as always to exhaust every pacific effort to settle juridically its boundary dispute.” The note then thanks the United States for its hospitality and cooperation during the Conference.
Shortly before handing to me this note the Foreign Minister had delivered a radio address to the nation giving the historical background of the boundary dispute and explaining the action contemplated.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me that he had intended terminating the negotiations in Washington on September 2nd of this year. However, this action was postponed because of the uncertain political conditions in Ecuador at that time. He added that Peru was now taking this step because the new Ecuadoran Government is not as friendly as its predecessor as shown by the Ecuadoran attitude including threats to boycott the Pan American Conference in December. The Foreign Minister also handed me, first, a copy of a personal letter from President Enriquez to President Benavides dated March 30th last but delivered much later, suggesting that if the negotiations in Washington should for any reason be interrupted the settlement of the controversy be intrusted to direct negotiations between the Ecuadoran Minister in Lima and the Foreign Office; and, second, a copy of the reply dated May 20th accepting the contingent proposal. The Foreign Minister emphasized that this was [Page 229] evidence that Ecuador had foreseen that the position which it would assume would cause the breakdown of the negotiations in Washington. Despatch will be forwarded.
- The Protocol of June 21, 1924, was signed at Quito by E. Castro Oyanguren, Peruvian Minister in Ecuador, and N. Clemente Ponce, Ecuadoran Minister for Foreign Affairs. For text of Protocol, see Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, p. 305.↩