722.2315/1054
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Ecuador (Gonzalez)
18. Your June 9, 6 p.m. I have seen the Ambassador of Ecuador this morning and have expressed to him the earnest hope of this Government that at this moment, as there would appear to be good reasons to believe that a more favorable atmosphere was developing for the successful continuation of the boundary negotiations in Washington, no sudden step might be taken which would terminate the negotiations or would give rise to a situation which might lead to a more acute form of controversy.
I have explained fully that the President is familiar with every phase of the negotiations and has consistently felt that the way in which he could be most helpful to Ecuador and to Peru as contingent arbitrator was for him to maintain an attitude of the most friendly but scrupulous impartiality as between the two Governments and not attempt to bring moral pressure to bear upon one or the other since this might well give rise to unfounded conjecture.
I have reminded the Ambassador of the solemn agreement of all of the American republics at Buenos Aires to solve all disputes which might arise between them only by pacific methods, and I have urged caution and moderation as being in the best interests of the two Governments involved in the dispute.
[Page 53]The considerations which have been advanced to the Ambassador of Ecuador will be reported by him directly to President Páez, and it is not desired that you personally make any further representations either to the President or the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A copy of a memorandum of my conversation with the Ambassador will be sent to you by air mail for your confidential information.