File No. 822.51/198.

The Secretary of State to the Minister of Ecuador.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 26th instant, in relation to the subject matter of our conversation last Friday, and, in reply, to repeat what I then said to you, that it is my impression that the matter of the proposed loan to Ecuador could not well be disassociated in my mind from the questions now pending between your Government and the Guayaquil & Quito Railway Company.

In view of the deep and friendly interest that this Government has always taken, and now takes, in the welfare of the Republic of Ecuador and of the regret with which it would view any impairment of Ecuador’s financial status, especially at this time, it is needless for me to assure you that this Government would be more than ready to render any proper assistance to your Government in this matter and to that end I shall be pleased to afford you, as I had the honor of informing you last Friday, an opportunity for a full and frank discussion of all pending questions.

Accept [etc.]

Robert Lansing.