Minister Fox to the Secretary of State.
Quito, August 13, 1910.
Ecuadorian Congress convened yesterday afternoon. The message of the President of Ecuador read, a translation of which follows in part:
The hostile attitude of the Republic of Peru, the concentration of her army in the frontier department of Piura, the pertinacity with which she has refused all means of conciliation, show clearly her decided purpose to protect by force her unfaithful proceedings in Madrid. War was imminent, but the Governments of Washington, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires offered in a spontaneous manner their highly esteemed mediation which has come to upset the warlike and vicious plans of our gratuitous enemies.
- Second. The mediating powers have obtained the retirement of the troops encamped on the frontier, thus avoiding an imminent outbreak of hostilities, but it is regrettable to announce to you that as regards the principal question, the very cause of the disagreement—the way to settle the boundary question—the mediating Governments as yet have not been able to arrive at any practical and definite conclusion; for Peru persists in refusing to comply with article 6 of the treaty of arbitration, 1887. Ecuador accepted mediation upon that basis, and it is not possible for her to separate in any manner from the conditions stated in the note of May 24 last, without causing damages which may be irreparable for the nation.
- Third. The unfruitfulness of my labor has given me the conviction that Peru will not withdraw from her pretensions to despoil us of territories which have never been in dispute, and which we never imagined we were going to lose, by an unfit decision contrary to the most elementary principles of justice. I refer to the project of the decision, now known to all the world, in which the overstepping of the limits by the arbitrator is clear and the ignorance of our indisputable rights is manifest, so that the opposition of the people of Ecuador to the above-mentioned arbitration is a justified public opinion.
- Fourth. The Government of Peru, not content with sustaining at any risk her unjust pretensions to our territory, has used all determination to turn and pervert the noblest sentiments of the Peruvian people, instilling into them deep and implacable hate against Ecuador and making them desire war as a necessary means of preserving national honor.
- Fifth. Nevertheless, I desire that that Government recognize the depth of the abyss to which it is dragging two peoples of identical origin and equal aspirations, and in order that at last it may conform itself to repairing the immense injury which it has caused us and render homage of the loss of reason and justice, even though it does this for its own purposes. But if such blindness finally produces its dire result, if war should break out in spite of our efforts to avoid it, I have full confidence that the Ecuadorian army, the personification of outraged right and justice, will conquer all resistance and will obtain by the force of arms that which is now refused to us by the most pacific and conciliatory means.
- Sixth. Ecuador will have many generous auxiliaries, should the case arise, in the work of vindication which ridiculed justice and good faith demand from us.
- Seventh. The union and cordiality of the peoples which formed the Grand Colombia of the Liberators has been shown the world. It appears, therefore, to be the most opportune moment to realize the vast and useful idea of the Colombian Confederation. I ask you to closely study this great problem, and, if you think as I do, to give me due authorization to negotiate the respective preliminaries with the Governments at Caracas and Bogota.
- Eighth. The Government of Chile, in our present conflict with Peru, has worked with interest in order that we should arrive at pacific and satisfactory solution.
Abbreviated report sent to Lima.