822.01/136: Telegram

The Ambassador in Ecuador (Scotten) to the Secretary of State

561. As several of my South American colleagues have already made informal calls upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have [Page 1044] just done likewise in compliance with the Department’s 471, June 2, 6 p.m. I have made it clear that my visit did not imply recognition and was purely personal. I found the Minister extremely cordial and gratified at my visit. I thanked him for the expressions in his official note (my 557, June 3, 10 a.m.) regarding solidarity with the United Nations et cetera. He emphasized that Ecuador would do everything within the possibility of its resources to assist in our victory against the Axis. His Government, he added, desires to collaborate with the United States in every respect and more than has been done in the past.

I then took occasion to explain to him with complete frankness our position vis-à-vis Argentina.15 I found that he had not been entirely clear regarding this and I think my explanation was very timely. He stated that he intended to have an extended conversation with Velasco Ibarra regarding this matter. He pointed out that he had not sent to the Argentine Ambassador an official note similar to the one referred to above which he had sent to myself and the other Chiefs of Mission but that he had sent a third person note as a matter of courtesy and which he assured me in no way implied recognition.

I informed the Minister I would make a similar informal call upon Velasco Ibarra as soon as he returns from Guayaquil. The Minister seemed very pleased at this gesture on my part.

Scotten
  1. See pp. 252 ff.