721.23/839
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
The Ecuadoran Minister2 called and told me that the Colombian Minister in Quito had opened negotiations with the Ecuadoran Government for permission for Colombian troops to go down the Napo River by way of the Aguarico River. He said that when this matter was taken up the Minister of Foreign Affairs3 inquired of the Colombian Minister whether he was acting under instructions and was told that he was not; the Minister had taken the matter up on his own responsibility. The Colombian Minister was told, in reply, that under those circumstances there was really nothing for the Ecuadoran Government to discuss.
The Minister said that this shows the great interest that Ecuador has in the Leticia matter4 and how involved Ecuador is in the whole matter. He said that it now seemed inevitable that there would be an armed clash and that he hoped the United States would use its moral suasion with both countries so that third parties would not be affected. He wanted the fighting localized between Peru and Colombia. I told him that of course this was desirable and we are hoping that fighting will be avoided altogether; if it is not, then the next best thing of course would be to localize it.
The Minister went on to say that negotiations are proceeding between Ecuador and Peru on the basis of the Ponce–Castro Oyanguren Agreement.5 He said that under the terms of this Agreement, if the two parties can not settle their boundary dispute by direct negotiations, the matter will be brought to Washington. This, the Minister thought, was another reason why this Government should take an interest in the matter.
I again inquired whether Colombia was informed of these negotiations. The Minister said he thought they were not but that I could be assured there was nothing in the negotiations hostile to Colombia. [Page 562] Ecuador and Colombia have settled their boundary matters. There is nothing in the present negotiations tending to line up Ecuador with Peru against Colombia; it is merely a straightforward out and out negotiation to settle the Ecuador-Peru boundary dispute.
I told the Minister that I understood his Government’s position and had already explained to him clearly what our limitations may be but that I would continue to bear the matter in mind and do anything that was proper.