BOUNDARY DISPUTE CLOUDS RIO CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000700120017-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2012
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 10, 1965
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700120017-6
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S E
BOUNDARY DISPUTE CLOUDS RIO CONFERENCE
The resurgence of the long standing boundary dispute between
Ecuador and Peru could prove to be disruptive to the Second Special
Inter-American Conference scheduled to open in Rio-de Janeiro on May
20. In late February Ecuador announced its intention of bringing the
boundary dispute before the conference and Peru shortly afterwards
announced its intention of taking any steps necessary, including with-
drawal from the conference, to avoid discussion of the issue.
History of Dispute - Ecuador and Peru have long held con-
flicting claims to a large, sparsely populated area of Amazon head-
waters territory. The dispute flared into open warfare in 1941 and
led to the occupation of Ecuador's southern provinces by Peruvian
troops before the Rio Protocol of 1942-brought an end to the fighting.
Under the Protocol,..which the U.S., Argentina, Brazil and Chile signed
as guarantors, Peru gained-most of the disputed territory. Since
then, Ecuador has consistently sought revision of the Protocol on the
grounds that it was forced upon her "at the point of a bayonet,"' while
Peru has insisted that the Protocol is an "untouchable" and valid
international instrument which cannot be revised or unilaterally
nullified.
The dispute has been a major cause of the repeated post-
ponements of the still to be held 11th Inter-American Conference,
originally scheduled to meet in Quito in 1960. Ecuadorean discontent
with the settlement reached a dangerous peak in 1960-61 following
President Velasco's announcement of Ecuador's "unilateral denunciation"
of the Rio Protocol. The January 29 anniversary of the Protocol is
observed annually, and Ecuadoreans deploring their lost territory
often adopt an anti-US tone in view of the US role as a guarantor -
power.
Recent Developments - The Military Junta now ruling Ecuador
has appeared genuinely desirous of avoiding any intensification of the
dispute. However, Ecuador's political parties, ever alert to oppor-
tunities to embarrass the Junta, have demanded that the Junta raise
the nullity of the Protocol at the forthcoming Conference. The emo-
tional reaction of most Ecuadoreans to this issue is so intense that
no Ecuadorean government can afford to ignore it. Accordingly, on
February 24, the Junta issued a statement condemning the Rio Protocol
and expressing a determination to seek its revision. Apparently in
reference to the rigidity of the OAS agenda, approved February 26, the
Junta asked the Consultative Board for Foreign Relations, an advisory
group made up of distinguished citizens, to find a way to bring the
matter before the Conference.
/ Declassified and Approve For Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700120017-6
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700120017-6
S E C R E T 15
The, reaction of. Peru was predictable. By February 25, the
Chamber of Deputies and Senate had unanimously passed motions rejecting
any Ecuadorian effort to revise or nullify the Rio Protocol. Press
coverage in Lima and Quito was extremely heavy and public pressure on
both governments increased. By March 3, the Peruvian Foreign Minister
told our Embassy that the legislature had authorized him to take such
steps as fie deemed to be in the national interest, including Peru.'s
withdrawal from the Rio Conference, should Ecuador succeed in bringing
the matter before that body. On March 5 in Quito, the Ecuadorean
Foreign Minister presented to the chiefs of missions of OAS nations
represented in Quito (Peru excepted) a memorandum stating his country's
position on the.Rio Protocol. The memorandum declared the government's
resolve to bring the boundary dispute before the Rio Conference and
reiterated Ecuador's assertion that the 1942 Protocol is null. The
memorandum also outlined the Ecuadorian.argument that the Rio Protocol
was signed under duress and is, hence, not binding.
Outlook - Both parties are soliciting support among OAS
nations. It is unlikely that popular opinion will allow either govern-
ment to grant concessions on the dispute. Indeed, Peru could react
with less restraint than it has to date and demand full implementa-
tion of the Protocol, including the long delayed placement of boundary
markers along the fifty miles of frontier that remain unmarked.,
It is, doubted that Ecuador can succeed in placing this issue
on the agenda, since such a revision would require 14 affirmative
votes. The best hope for minimizing the possible repercussions lies
in permitting both governments to dissipate domestic pressures by
appropriate public statements of their respective positions on the
Protocol.
The United States, faced with the possible alienation of
one or both of the parties involved and the possibility of a damaging
blow to OAS parliamentary machinery, has to date avoided any state-
ment on the dispute. The extent to which the OAS can remain apart
from this highly charged, issue during the next few months may well
determine the success or failure of the Rio Conference.
ARA NOTES
Chilean Congressional Elections
unpyedented victo n the M rch 7 Congressiona.erectBons . By
incing its eP p
resentatio in the 147 seat-
Chamber of De ut^i?e~s _~_
fro to 82 the PDC is assur d an absoe maiority. ah- antaae
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700120017-6