722.2315/1080
The Chargé in Peru (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s telegram No. 21 of July 6th, 1 p.m., conveying a message from President Roosevelt to President Benavides with reference to the latter’s message to President Roosevelt concerning the Peruvian-Ecuadoran boundary negotiations.
President Benavides received me in audience at noon on July 9th. In compliance with the Department’s instructions, I informed him that President Roosevelt had deeply appreciated his cordial message; that the President’s sole interest in the boundary negotiations is that Peru and Ecuador may find it possible in the near future to reach an amicable settlement of this long-standing question in order that friendly relations between all the American Republics may develop to the fullest degree and that the American Government will view with most sincere gratification any plan which may be satisfactory both to Peru and Ecuador for hastening the termination of the pending boundary question. After he had heard the message, President Benavides said that he was gratified to learn that President Roosevelt had understood the intent of his proposal which had been made in the hope that it would relieve the existing deadlock between the delegates by submitting the previous questions for decision to the highly respected Tribunal of The Hague, and that there was not the least intention on his part to get away from the provisions of the Protocol of 1924, which leaves the final decision in this matter to President Roosevelt.
President Benavides stated that the reply to his proposal had not yet been received from the Ecuadoran Government.
Respectfully yours,