W. T. Coggeshall to Señor Manuel Bustamente, March 2, 1867

Mr. Coggeshall to Señor Bustamente

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your important despatch dated March 1, 1867.

I have forwarded the same to the Secretary of State at Washington, and I do not doubt that he will cordially thank Ecuador for its exactness in the payment of the second dividend of the debt due the United States.

In answer to your request respecting the particular claims constituting the debt as declared by the mixed commission, permit me to say that I possess no data on which I can make an adequate report, nor do I deem such report necessary. The negotiation is now between the United States of America and Ecuador. The payments to particular creditors are made, if I understand the case, from the United States treasury. Receipts showing that Ecuador has met the dividends annually are sufficient, it appears to me, to protect its treasury from any future demands by individual creditors whose claims have been approved by the mixed commission.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,