740.0011 Pacific War/1166
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The Ambassador of Ecuador called to see me this morning. The Ambassador stated by instruction of his Government that he was ordered to inform this Government:
- (a)
- that the Government of Ecuador had received with the utmost indignation news of the treacherous attack by Japan upon the United States;
- (b)
- that the Government of Ecuador intended, and would so publicly declare, to carry out all of its inter-American agreements and to cooperate in every possible way with the United States for the defense of the hemisphere; and
- (c)
- that, believing that the situation of the Galápagos Islands was one which would expose them to danger of Japanese attack or occupation, the Government of Ecuador would immediately be willing to discuss with the United States an agreement for the protection of those islands by the United States.
I told the Ambassador that I hoped he would inform his Government immediately, in the name of the President and of the Government of the United States, of the deep appreciation with which this message had been received. With regard to his final point, I said that I would immediately consult the appropriate authorities of the United States and would let him know what suggestions they might have to offer.