The Washington times., 1936-05-27
u. 5. OFFERED
GALAPAGOS
ISLANDS
Copyright, 1896, by International
News Service)

BOGOTA, Colombia, May 27
uN.SJ.-Fearing an alleged Jap
anese desire to annex the Gala
pagos Islands for an advanced
naval base, the government of
Ecuador is willing to sell the
romantic island group to the
United States provided the Amer
ican Government guarantees the
small South American republic
against annexation of any of its
territory by a hostile neighbor.
This was revealed to Interna-
tional News Service today by
highly authoritative source who
claimed Ecuadorian agents in
Lima, Peru, have obtained copy
of secret agreement between
Tokyo and the Peruvian govern
ment by which, it is alleged,
Japan agrees to aid Peru in an
invasion in return for the
strategically located islands.
Great Naval Value
Hitherto known chiefly for the
adventures there of Baroness
EloiSe De Wagner, Sef-styled "em-
press" of a small cult, the islands
possess great naval Importance
because of their situation in re-
lation to the Panama Canal. Lo-
Gated more than 600 miles off
the Ecuadorian coast, the group
is approximately the same dis
tance southwest of the Panama
Canal and would be a distinct
threat if fortified as a naval base
by. a foreign power.
According to International News
Services informant, the alleged
secret agreement was signed last
year. In it, he charged, Japan
agreed to give Peru reliable ad-
vantageS" in event of a war with
Ecuador and the price Of with
drawal of Peruvian troops from
the invaded territory would be to
give the Galapagos Islands to
Japan.
Ecuadorians are agreed, it was
said, that any invasion by Peru
would be victorious because Ecua-
doris giant neighbor to the south
possesses an army and navy 10
times as strong as the smaller coun-
try.
Feeling Changed
In the past, it was explained,
Ecuador was loath to part with
the island group, famed to scien-
fists as the haunt Of giant lizards
and tortoises, and patriots opposed
StrenuouSly any proposals to sell
them. In recent months, however,
this feeling has changed, the peo-
pie concluding that the islands
have no value to Ecuador while
serving as refuge for tax-free
adventures like Baroness de Wag-
ner, the Ritters and others and as
the stamping ground Of reptile
hunting scientists.
A proposal to place a penal
colony on the islands was shelved
when it was decided it would be
too difficult to provide the neces-
Sary supplies and food and would
be too easy for criminals to make
their escape anyway.
Ecuador'S anxiety over a posi-
BILE invasion, the same high
source added. was heightened by
reports that Gen. oscar r. Bena-
vides, President of Peru, is con-
templating a coup d'etat to set
himself up as dictator when his
term of office expires shortly.
Relations Strained
According to the informant,
General Benavides has the prom
ised aid of a number of high
ranking army officers and, it was
pointed out, the dramatization of
border incidents would likely be
used as an excuse for the coup in
that war impended with Ecua-
dor.
Relations between Peru and
Ecuador and Colombia and Ecua-
dor have been strained for some
time because of boundary dis
putes, the informant declared.
Ecuador's object in selling the
Galapagos Islands to the United
States, he stated, would be to
obtain the good offices of the
American Nation in the settle
ment of boundary disputes and
the protection Of the United
States against invasion and terri
torial acquisition.
The sales of the islands to the
United States is even now the
subject of animated discussions
between the two nations, he
added.