Minister Fox to the Secretary of State.1
Quito, July 18, 1910.
Chargé d’Affaires of Brazil, without instructions, nevertheless accompanied me to conference to which we were invited by minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador to-day. Protocol read and discussed. I submitted orally and also in the form of aide-mémoire reasons why both countries should adopt it.
Minister for foreign affairs of Ecuador agreed to accept all that part in reference to mutual expressions of regret for depredations committed, etc. Regarding other part minister said that his Government could not separate itself from the doctrine outlined in the note of May 24th and in subsequent notes relative to urging for a direct arrangement for which it has perfect right in conformity with article 6 of the treaty of arbitration of 1887, since no decision has yet been pronounced. He added that his Government has accepted the mediation precisely because it judged it to be a high-minded and efficacious means for negotiations, aside from deference to and special appreciation of the mediating powers. Concerning that which relates to awaiting any change of attitude in the Spanish arbitrator and the actuation of the mediators in case of difficulties arising from award, should it be pronounced, the minister stated that his Government and the whole country can not accept postponement so indefinite; moreover, the Ecuadorian ministers in Madrid had stated to the minister of state that in case the direct arrangement was unsuccessful the arbitration proceedings could not be continued without the joint petition of both litigants; a declaration which he did not believe it was possible to revoke. He stated also that in case of discussion under direct arrangement he reiterated that which he had solicited before respecting the including of Colombia, since without such inclusion peace in the oriental territory could not be cemented, because Ecuador and Colombia, according to solemn treaties now in force, form both together a single party in the defense of their rights in the Amazon Basin. The minister closed his remarks stating that his Government was deeply impressed by the impartiality with which the mediating powers proceeded, and that it was very regrettable that it can not accept the protocol, in all its parts, on account of the reasons stated.
The minister stated further that neither the Congress nor the people would accept the protocol; that to do so would mean overthrow of the Government. The minister strenuously objected to the whole of the paragraph in which “await any change in the attitude of the Government of Spain, etc.”, is referred to.
- Repeated Lima.↩