Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The American Republics, Volume VII

810.20 Defense/677

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

[Washington,] February 10, 1941.

The Ambassador of Ecuador² called to see me this morning at my request.

The Ambassador gave me a message from his Foreign Minister³ which is attached herewith⁴ referring to the recent statements in the Peruvian press of Dr. Ulloa, former Foreign Minister of Peru, alleging that Ecuador was negotiating a concession of the Galápagos Islands to the United States.

I asked the Ambassador to let Dr. Tobar know that I myself was greatly astonished by these statements of Dr. Ulloa whom I had known for many years. Obviously, I said, the statements were utterly without foundation, and as a personal friend of Dr. Ulloa, I regretted that he had made these statements without availing himself of the many opportunities presented to assure himself that the reports to which he had given credence were utterly without foundation.

2. Colón Eloy Alfaro.
3. Julio Tobar Donoso.
4. Not printed.