740.0011 European War, 1939/19187
The Minister in Ecuador ( Long ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 3.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that last evening President Arroyo del Rio telephoned to me to read the text of a note to be sent to the Italian Minister announcing the breaking off of relations with the Italian Government. He informed me that identical notes would be sent simultaneously to the German Minister and the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires. This event was reported to the Department in my telegram No. 71 of January 29, 7:00 p.m.16
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I am taking up with the Foreign Office today, in accordance with the Department’s Instruction No. 841 of January 4 [24],16 the question of repatriation of the Axis official personnel in this country.
Today’s press gives prominence to the breaking of relations with the Axis, although there has not as yet been time for any significant editorial comment on the subject to appear. The signature of the Accord with Perú continues to overshadow in importance the action of the Ecuadoran Government in breaking relations with the Axis.
Respectfully yours,