462.00R/10–3046
The Chargé in Ecuador (Shaw) to the Secretary of State
No. 4704
[Received November 5.]
Sir: …
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On October 21, the Embassy received Foreign Office Memorandum No. 213 DDP dated October 17, acknowledging receipt of the Embassy’s memorandum of October 3 and stating that the Government of Ecuador had agreed that the final disposition of German property should be treated upon by the Inter-American Social and Economic Council. However, the memorandum takes exception to the Embassy’s description of the property in question as “enemy” rather than “German”.
It is possible that the Ecuadoran Government may take advantage of this distinction between “German” and “enemy” to unblock and return properties to certain non-German enemy persons. Although no recent activity or action has come to the attention of the Embassy, such persons have been pressing the Government and more recently the National Constituent Assembly for return of their former properties to the detriment of present owners in good faith.
A copy of the Embassy’s memorandum of October 3 and a copy and translation of the Foreign Office’s Memorandum No. 213 of October 17, 1946 are transmitted herewith73 for the information of the Department.
Respectfully yours,
- Neither printed.↩