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

822.24/96: Telegram

The Chargé in Ecuador ( Drew ) to the Secretary of State

Quito , May 16, 1941—3 p.m.
[Received May 17—9:43 p.m.]

88. Minister of National Defense informs me that at the suggestion of the Department a military mission composed of Colonel Urrutia, the Chief of the Ecuadoran Air Corps,⁷⁹ the Commander of the First Military Zone, and a fourth officer now in the United States will go to Washington the end of this month to remain for a minimum of 90 days to discuss procurement of armament.

I understood that El Comercio of Lima in connection with discussion of the mediation offer⁸⁰ has already criticized our action in transferring two patrol boats to Ecuador. It occurs to me that further criticism may be made when the visit of the Ecuadoran Military Mission to Washington becomes known, possibly prejudicing the success of the mediation.

Drew

79. Maj. Jorge Paez.
80. For the negotiations concerning the Peruvian-Ecuadoran boundary dispute, see vol. vi, pp. 212 ff.