811.24522/7–1744: Telegram

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

714. I brought the first paragraph of the Department’s 602, July 14, 7 p.m., to the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs today. The Minister stated that since our conversations he has been studying this whole question and he feels that the agreement which we sign for the postwar status of the Galápagos bases should be a formal international treaty and not a purely military agreement such as the Salinas agreement. The Minister was, however, speaking informally and I do not believe he has any definite opinion regarding this matter.

In case the Department desires the agreement to be of a military nature and not a formal international treaty I suggest that when the Department sends to me the instructions contemplated in the telegram under reference it explain the reasons for its preference in the premises.

Scotten