File No. 422.11G93/696.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Arbitrator, the Honorable Alexander L. Miller.
Washington , October 30, 1913 .
Sir: I beg leave to enclose herewith a copy of a note of the 12th ultimo1 from the Minister of Foreign Relations of Ecuador to the American Minister at Quito in relation to the Arbitration of the case of the Guayaquil & Quito Railway Company.
This note, as you will observe, incorporates textually the note previously addressed to this Department by Dr. Córdova, the Ecuadorean Minister at this capital, in which he confirmed certain assurances which he had on the same day given to the Department orally as to the powers of the arbitrators, their independence of Ecuadorean law, and the finality of their award.
On the 14th of the present month Dr. Córdova called at the Department and discussed with the Counselor the import of certain assurances given that the award was to be “final.” The Department is now in receipt of a telegram from Dr. Córdova reading as follows: [the text of the Minister’s telegram of October 28.]
In view of the assurance given in the note of the Ecuadorean Government and of the explanation made in the telegram of its Minister quoted above, I beg leave to advise you that the Department desires that the arbitration may be begun at the earliest practicable day. The Department will be glad to be advised, preferably by telegraph, of the date at which you may find it practicable to sail for Ecuador.
It is proper to add that the officials of the Railway Company have been advised of the situation and are desirous that the arbitration shall proceed.
I am [etc.]
- Inclosure in the American Minister’s despatch of September 14.↩