822.00 Revolutions/89
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The Ambassador of Ecuador4 called to see me this morning. The Ambassador read to me two cables which he had just received from his Government in which it was made clear that the Ambassador would be requested to stay on in his present capacity in Washington, although most of the other diplomatic representatives of Ecuador abroad would have their resignations accepted. Captain Alfaro made it evident to me that he is on the most intimate personal relations with Colonel Enriquez, the new head of the Government of Ecuador. He stated that in his judgment Colonel Enriquez would be a more efficient president under present conditions than his predecessor, although he expressed the greatest admiration and confidence in the integrity of ex-President Paez.
The Ambassador stated that the cabinet was now complete with the exception of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and he told me that he understood that Señor Francisco Guarderas, former Minister of Ecuador in Brazil and one of the delegates of Ecuador at the Buenos Aires Conference,5 would be appointed to that position. He stated that the new set-up involved no change in political color. He said that the new President was very open minded and pacific with regard to the settlement of the boundary controversy with Peru.6 In that connection he said that he was urging that the three Ecuadorean delegates engaged in the negotiations in Washington be continued in office.
The Ambassador said that no change in policy with regard to the Vatican would be undertaken.
He expressed concern at the report that all political refugees would be permitted to return to Ecuador … would inevitably promote disturbances. In conclusion he said, however, that he anticipated a period of complete quiet and stability for some months to come and that he intended himself before long to fly down to Ecuador for a personal summary of the situation.
He said that he had no instructions to ask recognition, and I replied that for the time being we were in a position of expectancy in order that we might determine our own policy with regard to recognition. I made it evident that the sole considerations this Government would have in mind would be the substantial support [Page 471] on the part of the people of Ecuador for the new Government, the ability of the new regime to maintain public order and to carry out the normal functions of government, and its determination to comply with its international obligations.
- Colón Eloy Alfaro.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1936, vol. v, pp. 3 ff.↩
- See pp. 46 ff.↩