File No. 763.72/4084
Memoranda of the Chief of the Division of
Latin-American Affairs of the Department of State
(
Stabler)
On Saturday, April 21, Mr. Ménos, the Haitian Minister, called at the
Latin-American Division by appointment and informed Mr. Stabler that he had received a
cable from his Government stating that the President of Haiti had
held numerous conferences with General
Cole, of the forces in occupation, in connection with
Haiti’s entrance into the war with Germany on the side of the United
States; that General Cole
had conveyed to the President a statement that it would be advisable
for Haiti to take this step, but that the President, in view of
possible opposition, desired to be assured of proper aid and
assistance in case the Government of Haiti decided to break
relations with Germany and declare war. Mr. Stabler said that he would
immediately take up this matter with the Secretary [Page 267] who would then instruct him to answer
Mr. Ménos’ inquiry in the
premises. Mr. Ménos said he
would be glad to have this information as soon as possible.
Mr. Stabler spoke with the
Secretary this morning with reference to Mr. Ménos and requested to be
informed as to whether the Government of the United States would
give proper aid to the Government of Haiti, should she break off
relations and declare war with Germany. Mr. Lansing instructed Mr. Stabler to state to Mr.
Ménos that the United
States would give all aid to Haiti in such eventuality.
As General Cole had
cabled the Navy Department requesting the same information, Mr.
Stabler asked Mr.
Lansing if he was
authorized to give the Navy Department the same information as
Mr. Ménos in order that
they might answer the cable. Mr. Lansing told Mr. Stabler he might do this.
Mr. Ménos called at the
Department this afternoon at the request of Mr. Stabler and was informed by the
latter that the United States would give all proper assistance
to him in case of a declaration of war with Germany. Mr.
Ménos asked what
specific aid the United States might give. This Mr. Stabler said it was impossible
at the moment to say as the question of furnishing aid was one
which depended entirely upon the circumstances which might
arise.
In speaking with Mr. Ménos
Mr. Stabler, as is the
custom, used the French language and informed him that the
United States would give Haiti tout appui
which he considered a correct translation of what the Secretary
had instructed him to say. Mr. Ménos said would this mean in English “all
proper assistance.” Mr. Stabler said it would.
At the Pan American Union on the occasion of the reception by the
Secretary of State to Mr. Balfour, Mr. Ménos spoke to Mr. Stabler and informed him that he had sent a
telegram to his Government, based on a conversation he had had
with Mr. Stabler, and had
said that the United States would give appui
convenable to Haiti, in case of her breaking off
relations and declaring war. Mr. Stabler said that of course was one translation,
but that as he had informed him, the translation should be tout appui.
