810.20 Defense/1891: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Ecuador ( Long )
18. In view of the desire of the President that Salinas be used as an aerial base (your 18, January 6, 9 p.m.2) and inasmuch as signature of the cooperative defense agreement only awaits the approval of the President of Ecuador,3 to whom the text agreed upon with Dr. Tobar Donoso4 has been sent by the Ecuadoran Ambassador here,5 you are instructed to advise the President that representatives of the Navy Department have proceeded to Quito to discuss with him and the appropriate authorities of his Government arrangements for the establishment of an advanced air base for the operation of patrol planes at Salinas.
These negotiations will cover the selection of the site and the acquisition of the necessary property. The arrangement concluded by these negotiations would come under the terms and provisions of the cooperative defense agreement.
It is not desired that this Government appear as lessee or purchaser of the necessary site. All arrangements should be made in the name of the Ecuadoran Government which will be reimbursed for its reasonable expenditures, and will make the site available to our Navy on a basis of joint use and Ecuadoran cooperation.
The Department desires to impress upon you the extreme urgency of this matter.