File No. 422.11 G 93/592.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Quito, February 22, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to report, with reference to my despatch No. 187, that the result of note No. 150, dated February 18, 1913, was a request from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to call at the Foreign Office for the purpose of discussing the contents of note No. 150 above mentioned.
Dr. Carrera then informed me that he had not yet received a reply from the Legation to note No. 118, dated December 12, 1912 (enclosure in despatch No. 170, dated December 16, 1912) and desired some statement from the Legation with reference to the contents of this note before replying to No. 150, appointing a time and place for the formal meeting of the Arbitrators for the purpose of exchanging credentials and full powers.
The point that Dr. Carrera seemed to have most in mind was the question of the scope of the powers granted to the American Arbitrator. He stated, further that he had been informed by the Ecuadorean Legation in Washington that the Department of State had told Mr. Wither1 that the powers granted to the American Arbitrator were unrestricted.
The conference ended by Dr. Carrera requesting the Legation to reply to the note from the Foreign Office of December 12 last.
The note in question contained so much controversial matter, on the subject of which the Legation had received no instructions, that after a consultation with Mr. Janes it was decided to ignore the contents of this note, with the exception of that part dealing with the powers of the American Arbitrator.
Note No. 151, dated February 21, 1913 (duplicate copies enclosed herewith), was accordingly addressed to the Foreign Office, together with a certified copy of the authority under which Mr. Janes will act.
I have [etc.]