710 Consultation 4/7–747: Telegram
The Chargé in Ecuador (Shaw) to the Secretary of State
277. Ecuador’s reply to questions contained Department’s two circular telegrams July 3 received in memorandum July 7 received this evening.
Point of view Ecuador Rio Conference should be special ad hoc meeting to convert Act Chapultepec into permanent treaty in accordance part 2, Resolution VIII, Mexico City Conference; also that such treaty is essentially political rather than military.
Treaty should be consistent with UN Charter and is suggested that points of treaty should be included in joint charter of Americas that will come out of Conference at Bogotá so that it will form part of an old statute with its American regional correlation.
[Page 13]That attack against one is aggression against all with obligation of immediate assistance is agreeable, the measures of immediate assistance and nature thereof with the right of self-defense set forth in article 51 of UN Charter all as stated in Department’s telegrams coincides with Ecuadoran point of view.
As regards question No. 2, Ecuador decidedly in favor of two-thirds majority vote for decisions on consultations. It is against a system which would permit of an effective veto.
The only point of difference is the matter of obliging participation in collective measures by state not concurring. Ecuador believes that as a matter of principle and order not to destroy democratic system it should be stated at least that the states not concurring are obliged to participate. The last sentence in Foreign Office memo under reference reads. “It is believed that the same principle of effective American solidarity demands, at least in principle, the obligatory participation in the collective measures by those states that may not concur with their favorable vote in the decision of the two-thirds.”
Ecuadoran Ambassador Washington being advised in above sense by cable tonight.
Answer to question on creation of permanent military organization at Bogotá follows later.
Following given orally and informally: “Rio Conference should be held without Nicaraguan participation (Dept’s circular telegram July 126) if situation remains as at present. Accepting representatives of Argüello government really dealing with a government in exile which Ecuador considers dangerous and unnecessary as Nicaragua would be bound by two-thirds vote if Ecuadoran proposal accepted.[”]
- Not printed.↩