The Acting Secretary of State to the Ecuadorian Minister.

No. 45.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 6th instant, by which you inform the department that your Government has appointed you, Senor Dr. Don Felicísimo López and Señor Dr. Don N. Clemente Ponce as commissioners, with full powers to arrange at Washington, with such commissioners as Peru may designate, the boundary question between Ecuador and Peru.

The department is sensible of the friendly spirit of the Government of Ecuador in suggesting such a course. The success of the idea, however, would evidently depend upon its joint adoption by Peru and Ecuador, in which eventuality it is hardly necessary to say that the Government of the United States would most gladly facilitate the work if such a conference should be agreed upon between the two countries concerned.

Accept, etc.,

Huntington Wilson.