Minister Fox to the Secretary of State.
Quito, June 20, 1910.
Referring to the department’s June 15, minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador, in reply to joint note of myself and Brazilian chargé d’affaires under date of June 20, refers to his note of June 17 regarding action of Ecuador, and says that owing to the unhealthy condition of Guayaquil troops can not be brought there, but they have been distributed in the Provinces of Guyas, the nearest point being 110 kilometers from the provisional frontier, and gives further details as to the distribution along the line of railway of withdrawn troops, which are 370 kilometers from frontier. Again, he insists that Peru is fortifying Tumbez, 30 kilometers from frontier, where it has 5,000 troops of all arms and more some other places in the vicinity. The note continues:
[Translation.] As to the disarmament both countries, my Government accepts the suggestion with pleasure; but having taken account of the failure in exactness with which Peru has proceeded, judges it is necessary to precede this by a covenant by which both countries shall obligate themselves to reduce its war footing to the number prescribed by its laws for a peace footing, a reduction which should be brought about within a time to be carefully chosen, and under moral guarantee of the mediators. Otherwise, clear as is the bad will of Peru, even in the retirement of its forces and the preparation for war, Ecuador can not accept this counsel of the powers without violating the foremost of its duties, that of looking to the security of the State. With this object in view, I again pay homage in the name of Ecuador to the mediating powers, manifesting to them at the same time that I regret not being able to accept unconditionally all of the good counsels, because the conduct of Peru, in this very delicate situation, prevents.