File No. 722.2315/589.
The American Chargé d’Affaires at Quito to the Secretary of State. 2
Quito , May 9, 1913 .
Sir: The Department has doubtless been informed by the Legation in Lima of the recent massacre of the Peruvian garrison at the [Page 1148] junction of the Morona and Cagimina Rivers1 in the Oriental region, by the Jíbaros Indians.
The Government of Ecuador has taken occasion to protest formally to the Government at Lima on account of the presence of Peruvian troops in this locality, claiming that the territory in question is within the limits of Ecuador, and has requested that the Peruvian troops be withdrawn.
To this note the Peruvian Government instructed its Chargé d’Affaires in Quito to reply verbally to the Ecuadorian Foreign Office as follows:
- 1.
- The Morona River district is regarded by the Government of Peru as Peruvian territory.
- 2.
- Ecuador has no right to protest against the Peruvian occupation of this locality because Ecuador has failed to comply with the conditions of the Treaty of 1887, which provided for submitting the boundary dispute between Peru and Ecuador to the arbitration of the King of Spain.
- 3.
- The Peruvian Government declined to withdraw its troops.
I am informed that since the attack by the Indians above mentioned the. Peruvian garrison at the junction of the Morona and Cagimina Rivers has been increased by three hundred men.
I have [etc.]