Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

481. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Ecuador ¹

Washington , November 21, 1956—10:23 a.m.

177. Embtel 273.² Please transmit personally to President Ponce following message from President Eisenhower ³

“His Excellency Senor Dr. Camilo Ponce Enriquez, President of the Republic of Ecuador, Quito.

I have received the stirring message of solidarity you transmitted to me through Ambassador Ravndal. The readiness of Ecuador to offer a contingent of its own to join the United Nations Police Force at Suez now in process of formation is a reflection of the deep sense of responsibility Your Excellency’s Government feels as a Free World partner of the United Nations in confronting the serious situation which has arisen in the Middle East. The sense of outrage experienced by Your Excellency over the ruthless suppression by Russian armed might of the heroic struggle for liberty recently made by the Hungarian people is fully shared by me. Your message and the solidarity of Your Excellency’s Government with the stand taken by the United States in meeting the situation are deeply appreciated. Dwight D. Eisenhower.”

Ambassador may wish remind President make proposal directly UN if not already done.⁴

Hoover

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Confidential. Drafted by Bragonier and approved by Rubottom. Repeated to the U.S. Delegation at the United Nations.
2. In telegram 273 from Quito, November 15, Ambassador Ravndal, who presented his credentials on August 29, informed the Department of a conversation with Ponce. The telegram reads in part: “During call on President Ponce today he spontaneously discussed Hungary Suez situations mincing no words in fully endorsing US stand both issues and pledging Ecuador’s complete solidarity.” Ponce stated further that Ecuador was prepared to contribute troops to an international police force. (Department of State, Central Files, 764.00/11–1556) A U.N. Emergency Force to deal with the situation in the Middle East was established by U.N. Resolution 1000(ES–I) adopted by the General Assembly on November 5. For text of the resolution and further discussion of the subject, see Yearbook of the United Nations 1956, pp. 36 ff.
3. Under cover of a memorandum to the President, dated November 19, Acting Secretary Hoover forwarded the text of a suggested reply to Ponce’s statement. The suggested text, which is identical to the transmitted message, bears a handwritten notation by Goodpaster, which reads: “OK’d by President 20 Nov. 56—State Dept notified to dispatch. G.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File)
4. In telegram 295 from Quito, November 26, the Embassy reported that Eisenhower’s message to Ponce had been delivered. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/11–2656) In telegram 198 to Quito, December 13, the Department stated that the United Nations had not accepted Ecuador’s offer to send troops to the U.N. Emergency Force. (Ibid., 320.5780/12–1156)