File No. No. 763.72112/10826
The Secretary of State to the Ecuadorian Minister ( Elizalde)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 22, dated October 29, 1918, in reference to certain cacao plantations in the Province of Los Rios which have been so embarrassed by reason of German control that distress has resulted to the Ecuadorian owners and laboring population.
I greatly regret that the measures which have proved necessary to restrain the enemies of this Government have brought hardships upon certain citizens of Ecuador who are so unfortunate as to have been associate directly or indirectly with German interests. This Government would strongly favor any course which would effect the permanent elimination of the German interests in the properties in question and, I am pleased to assure you, upon the consummation of such an arrangement the interested departments of this Government will be more than willing to afford such facilities, financial or commercial, as may be necessary.
Accept [etc.]