722.2315/742
The Chargé in Colombia (Dawson) to
the Acting Secretary of State
No. 5657
Bogotá, June 13, 1933.
[Received June
17.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegram No. 53 of June 2, 3 p.m., concerning the desire of Ecuador to
participate, with a view to settling its boundary question with Peru, in
the negotiations to take place between Colombia and Peru concerning the
Leticia controversy, and to the Legation’s despatch No. 5634 of June 6,
1933, in reply thereto, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies and
translations of a memorandum dated June 12, 1933, from the Colombian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, in reply to the aide-mémoire presented in compliance with the Department’s
instructions.
President Olaya informed me on June 10, 1933, that he had on June 5
instructed his Minister for Foreign Affairs to prepare and deliver the
memorandum to me. He expressed surprise that I had not already received
it. …
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Colombian Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Urdaneta
Arbeláez) to the American
Chargé (Dawson)
Memorandum
The Government of Ecuador has made known to the Government of the
United States its hope that the pending differences regarding
boundaries between Ecuador and Peru may be settled in conjunction
with the negotiations to take place between the latter country and
[Page 572]
Colombia in
fulfillment of the second of the recommendations made by the Council
of the League of Nations on March 18 last.
The Government of Ecuador has asked the Government of the United
States to make known to the Governments of Colombia and Peru its
desire to take part in the conversations between them.
Up to the present the points which are to be the subject of the
conversations between the Governments of Colombia and Peru had not
been completely defined, since the preliminary exchange of ideas to
determine the points to be considered has not yet taken place.
It would consequently be premature to give an opinion at the present
time as to the opportunity that the Government of Ecuador take part
in the negotiations mentioned.
When the Brazilian mediation in the Leticia conflict began, the
Government of Colombia received a suggestion that a conference, at
which Ecuador would be represented, take place once the conflict was
terminated; the Government of Colombia accepted the idea with
pleasure, but, for other reasons, it did not succeed.
The Government of Colombia has the greatest desire that the pending
territorial differences between Ecuador and Peru receive a prompt
and just solution and is disposed to cooperate as far as it may in
this sense.
