File No. 422.11G93/899
[Untitled]
Quito, January 13, 1917, 10 a.m.
My telegram of January 12, 11a.m. Answer received last night is not satisfactory. The Minister for Foreign Affairs again denies right of Government of the United States to interfere and repeats in general terms purpose of Ecuadorean Government to meet all its obligations but evades saying when if at all interest on bonds will be paid or contains no promise to pay interest or resume deposits, but suggests in an evasive and general way that no assurance can be given that Ecuador will have money to pay any debts within ten weeks. I will immediately restate the case in a note to Foreign Office based upon Department’s December 31, 7 p.m. and endeavor to obtain a more satisfactory answer.