File No. 822.032/11.
The American Minister to
the Secretary of State.
No. 19.]
American Legation,
Quito,
August 13, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copies of the Message of the President of the Republic to Congress which
was read at the first session on August 10th. The message chiefly draws
attention to the reforms begun by General Plaza in the general
administration of the country.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation—Extract.]3
The Government through the Secretary of State has whenever necessary
called to the attention of the [Guayaquil & Quito] Railroad
Company the deficiencies and irregularities noticed in its service
and has required the discontinuance of illegal conditions authorized
or tolerated by preceding administrations. The Company has either
acquiesced or failed to respond or alleged rights that the
Government, by itself, could not ignore. I believe that the present
difficulties [Page 472] will continue
until they are taken up by the arbitrators contemplated by article
27 of the contract of June 14, 1897, who are to be appointed by the
Presidents of Ecuador and the United States of North America.
During the present year we were at one time at the point of
organizing the arbitral tribunal, for there appeared in this city
Mr. Henry Janes, the arbitrator appointed by the then American
President, Mr. Taft.1 As we, on our part, had appointed Doctor
Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno,2 the tribunal
seemed about to be organized.
It was not so, however. Difficulties arose regarding the constitution
of the tribunal and while the discussion of this delicate matter was
going on, Mr. Janes suspended his participation and returned to his
country. We are, therefore, where we were before; but we hope that
the new President of the United States, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, who has
so outspokenly proclaimed his intense Pan-American spirit, will soon
appoint some one to replace Mr. Janes on the tribunal.
