File No. 838.00/570.

The American Minister to the Dominican Republic to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.]

The American minister, Mr. Russell, had a conversation with the minister for foreign affairs on the situation in Haiti in which he stated that many of the Haitian forces were deserting and taking refuge in Dominican territory; also political suspects. Their return had been demanded, but the Dominican Government, knowing that they would probably be shot, had refused to give them up. Mr. Russell states that it would seem that these refugees, safe in Dominican territory, would not risk their lives by returning to Haitian territory, but he will endeavor to obtain definite information through the American employees of the general receivership on the frontier, and will report.