611.2231/285b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Ecuador (Long)
50. 1. In a number of trade agreements previously concluded, the reservation covering arms, etc. in the general reservations article has appeared in language similar to that in Article 16 of the Ecuadoran agreement. Recently this reservation has been revised by the addition of another clause, intended to clarify the scope of the reservation. It [Page 533] would be desirable, therefore, to communicate to the Ecuadoran Government this Government’s position in this matter in a note to be addressed by you to the appropriate official, substantially as follows:
“I have the honor to make the following statement of my understanding of the agreement reached through recent conversations in Quito by representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador, with reference to the second paragraph of Article XVI of the trade agreement signed on August 6, 1938, which is that nothing in that agreement shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by either Government of measures relating to neutrality.”
2. The note should be handed the appropriate official prior to August 10th.
3. The text of your note and reply thereto would be published in due course.