Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1934, The American Republics, Volume IV

722.2315/786

The Assistant Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt

[Washington,] January 31, 1934.

My Dear Mr. President: There is transmitted herewith for your information a translation of a note dated today which has just been received from the Ecuadoran Minister in this city referring to the so-called Ponce–Castro Protocol of June 21, 1924, concluded between the Governments of Peru and Ecuador with a view to an equitable delineation of their common boundary, which has been in dispute since colonial times and has been the subject of many efforts on the part of the two Governments to settle. A note from the Peruvian Ambassador in identic terms, mutatis mutandis, has likewise been received today.⁶ The two Governments request the permission of the Government of the United States, under the terms of the above referred to Ponce–Castro Protocol, to send to Washington their respective delegations to discuss in a friendly manner their boundary matter in order that, if unable to fix a definitive line by common consent, they may determine those zones which are reciprocally recognized as belonging to each of the two parties as well as a zone to be submitted to the arbitral decision of the President of the United States.

The notes from the Peruvian and Ecuadoran representatives go on to state that, after receiving the desired permission from this Government and while the respective delegations are being constituted in Washington, the two Governments will proceed immediately to initiate negotiations in Lima in order, if possible, to arrive at a fair and equitable agreement regarding their boundary dispute.

It appears to me highly desirable that we offer to these two Governments our friendly assistance in the manner requested in order that they may arrive at a peaceful solution of their long standing controversy. I therefore hope that you will agree that the request of the two Governments should be granted. Should you coincide in this belief, I feel sure that the Governments of Ecuador and Peru would be deeply gratified should you consent to receive the Ambassador of Peru and the Minister of Ecuador for a brief interview at the White House in order that they may be advised by you that we are glad to comply with their request and to express the hope of this Government that the negotiations now commencing may meet with complete success. I am confident that this personal expression of interest on your part would be greatly appreciated.⁷

Faithfully yours,

Sumner Welles

[Enclosure—Translation]

The Ecuadoran Minister (Alfaro) to the Secretary of State

No. 20

Washington, January 31, 1934.

Mr. Secretary: On June 21st of the year 1924, the Governments of Ecuador and Peru, in their desire to reach a settlement of concord and equity as soon as possible in their boundary dispute, signed at Quito, by their respective representatives, a protocol according to which the two Governments, with the assent of the United States of America, would send their respective Delegations to Washington amicably to discuss there the question of boundaries, in order that, if they should not succeed in establishing a definitive line, they might determine by common agreement the zones which are recognized reciprocally by each of the two parties and the zone which would have to be submitted to the arbitral decision of the President of the United States of America.

Further, His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations of Peru invited, by a note of October 18, 1933, the Government of Ecuador, through our Minister at Lima, to initiate direct negotiations regarding the said boundary matter, in accordance with the Protocol alluded to, and the Government of Ecuador accepted the said invitation in a note of November 21, 1933, stating that it was well to proceed to comply with the provisions of Art. 1 of the Protocol mentioned, for which reason, in compliance with instructions from my Government, I am requesting the assent of the Government of the United States of America, so that in due time the Government of Ecuador may send its Delegation to Washington to discuss the boundary question amicably with the Delegation which the Republic of Peru will send at the proper time, notifying Your Excellency that without prejudice to what has been requested, and until the said Delegations are organized at Washington, the two Governments are going to proceed to negotiations at Lima immediately, to see if they can reach a just and equitable settlement of their old boundary dispute.

I avail myself [etc.]

C. E. Alfaro

6. Not found in Department files.
7. A photostatic copy of this letter in the Department files hears the notation, “OK. FDR” (722.2315/784).