721.23/2232a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Ecuador (Dawson)
6. Some time ago the Department was advised by the Minister of Ecuador merely as a matter of information that his Government had been informed by the Minister of Brazil in Quito that the Brazilian Government believed that no permanent solution of the boundary controversy between Peru and Colombia could be found without taking into account the rights of Ecuador in the Amazon region and that the Brazilian Government was disposed to favor the participation of Ecuador in any final adjustment of this problem.
On April 20 the Minister of Ecuador transmitted orally an official instruction from his Government requesting the good offices of the United States in obtaining the participation by Ecuador in the negotiations now proceeding in Rio before any final agreement was reached by Peru and Colombia. He has been informed that this Government is not advised whether any definite agreement in principle has been reached as yet between those two governments and that it is felt that the injection of a new problem into the discussions at this moment might merely serve to complicate the controversy and retard the solution we all hope for. In a very general way the Minister has been further told that we urgently desire a permanent and just and final settlement of this boundary controversy as well as of all boundary controversies on the continent, which have been responsible for so many tragic disputes between the American republics, and that if at any time in the future our friendly assistance can be offered in a manner which, in our judgment, would be productive in furthering a permanent settlement of this particular dispute, we would, of course, be glad to lend our aid should such be agreeable to all of the nations involved in the question.