The above-mentioned option obtained by M. Coignet regarding municipal improvements at Guayaquil expired on the 30th of last June. Before and subsequent to the election. of General Plaza, the present Chief Executive of Ecuador, this Government was formally and earnestly approached for aid in the matter of sanitation. The various proposals of the Ecuadorean Government looked to the carrying through of the work required, either directly by or under the supervision of United States officials. The Ecuadorean Government has therefore become convinced, in consonance with the purpose which the course taken by the Department above indicated seemed to obey, that the proper sanitation of Guayaquil is of great mutual interest and that the United States is prepared to help Ecuador to formulate an adequate plan to obtain this end of common benefit. During the year 1912 the Legation of the United States at Quito was frequently approached by appropriate officials of the Ecuadorean Government on the subject of the sanitation of Guayaquil. The Ecuadorean Government expressed the desire to enter into a convention that might enable the United States, through its sanitary officials, to take charge for several years of the administration at the port of Guayaquil pertaining to sanitation, and to place at the disposal of such officials funds which it was believed would be sufficient to support such an administration. It was not proposed, at the time the idea of a convention was broached in the month of February, 1912, by the Ecuadorean Government to include the execution of any work of construction, such as a water-supply system, sewerage, or the paving of the city, but had reference solely to the extinction of yellow fever and bubonic plague through the administration and police action of American officials placed temporarily in charge of local health department.1 A cursory study of the purpose of the Ecuadorean Government during the early months of 1912 brought conviction that insufficient guaranties of a practical nature, such as those assuring permanancy to a work with which the name of the United States would in this manner necessarily be connected, militated strongly against its serious consideration by this Government, and made its preliminary examination and recommendation by responsible sanitary experts a prerequisite to the determination of measures that would effectually meet the real needs of the situation. It appeared that the solution of the sanitary problem of Guayaquil lay not merely in the enforcement of police sanitary regulations, however carefully prepared, but in a provision for an abundant water supply, the installation of sewerage and drainage systems, and possibly the general reform of building construction. Reports had also reached the Department, as previously stated, that the contract which a French citizen, Coignet, was desirous of entering into with the Government of Ecuador was absolutely inadequate to accomplish sanitation, although the contract provided for an outlay of from eight to ten millions of dollars. It became more and more apparent that the Government should be placed in possession of data resulting from complete preliminary surveys, the 1 For. Rel. 1912. p. 423. preparation of tentative plans, and specifications showing what means would be accurately adapted to the end it was desired to attain. The discussion between the Legation and the Ecuadorean Foreign Office regarding the sanitation of the port proceeded along general lines until the month of May, 1912, when the Ecuadorean Government presented a memorandum stating the views of that Government with reference to the sanitation of Guayaquil. A copy of the translation of this memorandum, dated May 6, 1912, is attached hereto merely in the way of information. With reference to this memorandum the Minister for Foreign Af fairs of Ecuador in the month of July, 1912, expressed a desire that the complete work needed to bring about the sanitation of Guayaquil and its suburbs should be undertaken by the Government of the United States "without the intervention of any companies, contractors, or private speculators whatsoever." This Government was then invited to enter into a convention with the Government of Ecuador in accordance with the memorandum of May 6, to be submitted for approval to the following Ecuadorean Congress.2 In connection with this the Department of State found it necessary to instruct the Legation to point out the difficulties of the performance of the sanitary work by this Government and to emphasize the importance of awaiting the result of a preliminary examination of the infected region, which would supply accurate technical information then entirely lacking and which would make possible intelligent conversation with the Ecuadorean Government on the subject of a possible arrangement, under which expert assistance of the United States might be made effective in carrying out the actual work of sanitation of Guayaquil and the region in which it lies. Accordingly, in the latter part of 1912 the Ecuadorean Government deposited $8,000 to the order of the American Legation in Quito for the payment of the expenses of a sanitary commission under the direction of Colonel Gorgas, which was to study and report upon the feasibility of the sanitation of the port of Guayaquil.' The commission arrived in Guayaquil in December, 1912, and made a complete study of local conditions. It reported that no insuperable obstacles existed to the sanitation of this port and indicated what methods should be followed in order to carry it into effect. This included an expenditure of some ten million dollars for certain essentially necessary public improvements such as water supply, sewerage, and paving. Only about one-half of the money available was expended by the commission and $4,000 were returned to the Ecuadorean Government. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF LATIN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS, Printed in For. Rel. 1912, pp. 427-429. a Id. 431. Id. 432. Id. 433. File No. 822.124/310a. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 13, 1913. Referring to memoranda of March 23 and May 6, 1912,' inquire of President Plaza whether he still desires to secure the assistance of Isthmian Canal Commission officials in sanitation of Guayaquil in accordance with Colonel Gorgas's report, which was made at request of Ecuador. We feel a deep interest in the matter not only because of our friendship for Ecuador but also because of our concern in all that relates to the health of the Isthmus of Panama. Hence the present inquiry is made in the interest of both Governments and with a view to indicate our desire to aid the Government of Ecuador in the attainment of the important object in view. File No. 822.124/312. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, BRYAN. Quito, October 17, 1913. The President yesterday informed me that a representative of the J. G. White Co. sailed from London Oct. 11 to close contract for sanitation of Guayaquil. The President says that if the Government of the United States will assist in having a receiver appointed for the Guayaquil & Quito Railway Co. he will include in the sanitation contract a provision requiring the work to be done under the supervision of Colonel Gorgas. He declares that the only cause of unfriendliness toward the United States is the conduct of the railway company. He asserts that the appointment of a receiver for the railway properties, with the assistance of the United States Government, would result in conserving earnings which are being misappropriated and also remove the feeling of unfriendliness against us. President Plaza informs me that Congress has authorized a bond issue of 66,000,000 sucres, bearing 5 per cent interest, of which 20,000,000 are for sanitation of Guayaquil. He hopes that American capital will take the sanitation bonds, which act would be much appreciated by Ecuador. File No. 822.124/312. HARTMAN. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The MacArthur Bros., of New York, have advised the Department to-day that they are prépared to undertake the work and will send For. Rel. 1912, pp. 426–427. a representative immediately to Guayaquil if assured of a reasonable time after his arrival to investigate the situation and submit bids. You will confer with President Plaza in the following sense: That the President of Ecuador should seek to connect the railway case, now on the point of going to arbitration, with the wholly distinct question of the sanitation of Guayaquil is regretted by this Government. If it were permissible to treat these matters as being in any way interdependent, it would be appropriate to contrast the frank and friendly manner in which this Government has met the wishes of the Government of Ecuador in the matter of the railway arbitration with the course which that Government pursues in closing the door to the friendly cooperation of this Government and its citizens in a matter in which they have a deep, immediate and enduring concern. By reason of the physical relation of Guayaquil to the Isthmus of Panama, the sanitation of Guayaquil is of interest to the entire world, but it specially affects the west coast of South America and most vitally concerns this Government as the constructor and operator of the Panama Canal. The true interest of Ecuador is in reality identical with our own. The Government of the United States has not asked for any favors in the matter and has not expected any to be extended either to itself or to its citizens. On the contrary, it has in the first place suggested in the interest of Ecuador herself that she secure the assistance of Isthmian Canal Commission officials in the sanitation of Guayaquil in accordance with the report which Colonel Gorgas made at her own request, this plan insuring the lowest rate of cost for work actually done and the observance of the highest scientific standards. Should this apparently ideal plan prove to be unacceptable to Ecuador, this Government has requested and desired fair opportunity for American engineers and contractors to submit competing bids on the same basis as the engineers and contractors of other nations. The mutual interests and friendship of the two countries would seem to require at least as much as this. BRYAN. File No. 822.124/315. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.} AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, November 7, 1913. Department's October 22. After considerable delay, due to illness of the President and matters growing out of the revolution, I presented today the views of the Department as stated in your telegram. The President says that Mr. McClusky, the representative of J. G. White & Co., has just arrived in Quito and that, while no definite or final contract has been signed, he believes the contract will be executed with them. I impressed upon him the relation of Gur Government toward the Panama Canal and its operation, and said that the United States Government, as the constructor and owner of the canal, has the power, and it is its plain duty, to so control its use as not to jeopardize the health of the people of the world, and that in performance of that duty it might, on occasion, be compelled, however reluctantly, to exclude from passage through the canal vessels touching at ports infected with contagious diseases; and that the work of sanitation of Guayaquil should be so thoroughly performed, and according to such high scientific standards, as to remove all doubts as to the safety and propriety of permitting vessels touching at that port to pass through the canal. I suggested that if the work should be done under the supervision of Colonel Gorgas the efficiency of the work would practically be assured. The President expressed his appreciation of the character and superior attainment of Colonel Gorgas and of the merits of the plans submitted by him, but said that the junta at Guayaquil has authority to decide the question of the supervision of the work. I suggested the propriety of me having a conference with Mr. McClusky, and the President agreed that such conference would be desirable. Unless you advise otherwise, I will pursue that course. HARTMAN. File No. 822.124/317. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Quito, November 17, 1913. The representative of J. G. White & Co. says that his company desires to meet the views of our Government and that Engineer Williamson, formerly with the Isthmian Canal Commission, will be in charge of the work; that his company desires to have the cooperation of our Government and that Gorgas stands at the head of the list in sanitary work. In the absence of instructions to the contrary I am proceeding on the assumption that the Department desires above all else the speedy and successful sanitation of Guayaquil, and, everything being equal, that it prefers to have the work done by American contractors. HARTMAN. File No. 822.124/326. The American Consul General at Guayaquil to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL, SIR: I have the honor to place the following facts before you, for onsideration. The White contract for the sanitation of Guayaquil was definitely settled December 9, 1913. It stipulates that the contractors must present documentary proof that the White Company is of English origin, and has its principal offices in London. The Government will pay the contractors, as compensation for their services rendered in the construction of the work, twelve and |