File No. 839.00/973.
The Secretary of State to the American Minister.
Washington, November 28, 1913.
Department’s November 21, your November 22, and Department’s November 24, 7 p.m. Do you not consider that the guaranty of a fair ballot and free election is entirely covered by the substance of Department’s November 24, 7 p.m., or do you adhere to the recommendations in your November 22? If the latter, have you available on the ground or in Puerto Rico men acceptable to the Dominicans and to you, whose presence would attract no undue attention; or would a result satisfactory to all parties be more likely to come from a general knowledge that the United States would conduct a non-interfering scrutiny?