811.24522/6–1846: Telegram
The Ambassador in Ecuador (Scotten) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 19—2:10 a.m.]
317. In reply to the memorandum I handed the President yesterday reported in my 313, June 17, 11 a.m.41 the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs42 this afternoon handed me a memorandum, the text of which follows:
“The Govt of Ecuador has received the memorandum of the Embassy of the United States of America dated June 15, 1946, in which are set out some suggestions respecting the functioning of the Galápagos base after July 1, 1946.
2. Because of treating of a complex matter, as well as for the necessity of coordinating the points of view expressed in the conversations that have taken place in Quito concerning this subject with those carried out in Washington between the Ambassador of Ecuador and officials of the Dept of State, whose points (of view) do not coincide with those of the aforesaid memorandum of the Embassy of the US, the Govt of Ecuador considers it advisable to take prudent time for the study and resolution of the matter.
3. As the Galápagos base must be returned to Ecuador and come under complete and unrestricted Ecuadoran sovereignty on July 1, 1946 the Govt of Ecuador advises the Govt of the US of America in advance that they could agree that the technical personnel of the US necessary for the conservation of the installations and equipment and the conditions of maintaining the base remain until an agreement is arrived at between the two Govts for the amplification of the current contracts covering the technical military missions.”