Minister Fox to the Secretary of State.
Quito, July 7, 1910.
Minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador by note to-day at noon informed me that a portion of the Peruvian army in six launches have invaded the Ecuadorian Orient by means of Rivers Aguarico and Curaray. The force consists of 500 men under command of Oscar Mavila. They have established themselves and have blockaded the mouth of the Aguarico. Another force of Peruvians is collected at the mouth of the Curaray in Torreal Causina and Mazan, which are Ecuadorian possessions, while other Peruvian launches have gone up [Page 481] the Curaray in order to blockade or occupy Ecuadorian territory. The names of launches are given.
The minister says that Peru has now broken all her faith and covenants with Ecuador, especially the status quo of the treaty of arbitration of 1887, and thereby insulting the mediating powers. Peru has thus by its own actions declared mediation ineffective by engaging in unforeseen hostilities against a nation which has placed every reliance on international faith. The minister says that therefore in order to guard the honor and the rights of Ecuador he protests with all energy against the unlooked for invasion of Ecuadorian soil.
The minister asks me to bring the facts to the attention of the mediating powers in which Ecuador has the greatest faith and he states at the same time that the responsibility is with Peru in case the negotiations for peace fail on account of actions making resort to arms unavoidable.