92. Memorandum of conversation, May 2, between Foreign Minister Chiriboga and A.A. Berle1
SUBJECT
- Ecuador
PARTICIPANTS
- Dr. Jose Ricardo Chiriboga Villagomez, Foreign Minister of Ecuador
- A. A. Berle
Dr. Chiriboga, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ecuador, was at my house last night.
[Typeset Page 232]He took occasion to explain that he was very unhappy about the situation in Ecuador. His President is vibrating between the pro-Communist forces represented by Araujo and the pro-American forces which he represents. He considered that the great majority of the country was with him and so were the armed forces of Ecuador. Araujo and his group (he described them as “rats in the palace”) were always endeavoring to induce Velasco to do things contrary to the common interest which he considered Ecuador and the United States must maintain. He said that at some time the issue might be squarely forced in which case he would have to resign.
I inquired as to what he thought we ought to do.
Chiriboga said there was no point in discussing the question squarely. He thought it best
(a) to see to it that the boundary question between Ecuador and Peru was left strictly alone;
(b) to go forward with the loan on housing but
(c) to slow up diplomatically on other aid to Ecuador. Sooner or later, he thought, this would tend to bring home to President Velasco that he could not hunt with the hounds and run with the hare. Araujo is constantly telling him that he can get everything he wants out of [Facsimile Page 2] us and then get more help from the Soviet Union later.
On the more cheery side, Chiriboga said there were demonstrations in Guayaquil, that they had been extremely weak and there was no great worry of the Communists upsetting the situation themselves. They would have to proceed through the palace in some fashion. Chiriboga intimated that if Velasco went too far the armed forces would upset the Velasco government.
- Chiriboga’s concern over pro-Communist forces in Ecuador. Secret. 2 pp. DOS, CF, 722.00/5–261.↩