DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: Feb. 13, 1951
SUBJECT: Courtesy visit of Ecuadoran Foreign Minister; Proposed Official Visit of President Plaza to the United States
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Neftali PONCE Miranda - Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ambassador Pe�aherrera - Ecuadoran Embassy Dr. Alfonso Moscoso - Minister-Counselor, Ecuadoran Emb. Secretary Acheson Ambassador John F. Simmons - Chief of Protocol Mr. McGinnis - OSA
COPIES TO: Embassy, Quito ARA MID - Mr. Bennett
Dr. Neftali Ponce Miranda called upon me at 4:15 p.m. today for a brief courtesy visit.
After the customary exchange of amenities, I remarked that we were pleased with the able support and assistance that the Ecuadoran Government had given us in the UN Security Council and in the other organs of the UN. The Foreign Minister replied that his Government could not do otherwise since Ecuador shares the same democratic ideals and aspirations for peace that have motivated the foreign policy of the United States.
I then said that I wished to take this occasion to inform Dr. Ponce that President Truman would be pleased to have President Galo Plaza officially visit the United States later in the year. I stated that, if the Ecuadoran President indicated that it would be convenient for him to make the visit, we would in due course extend an official invitation. I added that the visit, if agreeable, would necessarily take place after the completion of the repairs now going forward on the White House. President Plaza, I said, was held in high esteem here and had made a host of friends during his tour of duty as Ambassador to Washington.
Dr. Ponce thanked me and stated that he would be glad to convey this information to the President. He said that, while he could not speak for President Plaza, he felt sure that the President would be delighted to make such a visit.
- 2 -
I mentioned the forthcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American Republics and spoke of the importance that we attached to our relations with the other nations of this Hemisphere. The Foreign Minister replied that his Government was in complete agreement with the US as to the need for the conference and added that he anticipated that it would be successful in dealing with the problems arising from the present international situation. Dr. Ponce concluded by saying that the views of his Government coincided with our own on the grave threat to peace created by Soviet policies
ARA/OSA:ELMcGinnis, Jr.:OB