File No. 322.93/3.
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
No. 66.]
American Legation,
Quito,
March 2, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy of a letter received by this Legation from the President of the
Chinese Colony in Guayaquil containing a list of the losses sustained by
Chinese citizens in Ecuador during the recent revolution.
I discussed this matter verbally with the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
who informed me that the proper course would be for the Chinese citizens
affected to institute judicial proceedings in the courts of the country
to determine the amount due and responsibility for damages claimed. This
information was communicated to the President of the Chinese Colony.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1.]
The President of the Chinese
Colony at Guayaquil to the American
Minister.
[Seal of the Chinese
Colony.]
Guayaquil,
February 24, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
a statement1 of the
losses sustained by Chinese citizens in Ecuador during the
revolution commencing December 28, 1911. These losses were the
result of operations both by the Constitutional and revolutionary
forces.
This statement is an outline only on the Chinese losses and is
extracted from detailed documents sustained by competent witnesses.
It is sent for your immediate information with a view of elaborating
a scheme of presentation and collection.
[Page 435]
A copy of this communication will be sent by this mail to Mr. Young,
now in Washington, and to the Chinese Minister, in order that
conferences may be held regarding the disposition of this claim.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 2.]
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the President of the
Chinese Colony.
American Legation,
Quito,
March 2, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of February 24, 1912, inclosing a list of the
losses sustained by Chinese citizens during the recent revolution in
Ecuador.
I discussed the matter of Chinese claims, verbally, with his
excellency, Dr. Carlos R. Tobar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who
advised me that the proper procedure would be for the Chinese who
have suffered losses to institute judicial proceedings in the courts
of law of the country to determine the amount of loss in each case
and to fix the responsibility.
I would therefore suggest that you lose no time in collecting all the
evidence possible in regard to the claims above mentioned and that
you select two of them as test cases, one where the damage was
caused by the Constitutional troops, the other where revolutionary
troops were responsible, leaving the others for such action as may
seem advisable after a decision has been obtained in the two test
cases.
I am [etc.]
