422.11Am8/21

The Secretary of State to Mr. Van Santvoord Merle-Smith

Sir: Adverting to this Department’s letter to you of January 10,7 in respect to a cablegram dated January 6, from the American Minister at Quito, Ecuador, regarding the claim of G. Amsinck and Company against the municipality of Guayaquil, and referring also to your call at the Department on January 20, at which time you expressed the desire in behalf of your clients, G. Amsinck and Company, that the Government cable a further protest in the matter, you are advised that written despatches just received from the American Minister contained no more satisfactory information than that reported in his cablegram.

Therefore, on February 7th, the Department again cabled the American Minister at Quito to enter a vigorous protest with respect to the arbitrary exchange rate in Ecuador which if applied retroactively to contracts antedating the decree, would in effect bring about repudiation of indebtedness due American citizens. The American Minister was instructed to incorporate in his written communication representations setting forth that the Government of the United States is deeply concerned over the matter and trusts that it may receive prompt assurances that the regulation will not be applied retroactively so far as American interests are concerned. The Minister was also instructed to renew the representations which he had previously made [Page 101] in respect to the claim of G. Amsinck and Company and other interested Americans.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
F. M. Dearing

Assistant Secretary
  1. Not printed.