339.3921L96/3: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Dominican Republic (Russell)
31. Your August 3, 6 p.m.
Department desires you to inform the Military Governor that the arrest of Lugo, Fiallo and Flores Cabrera has caused deep concern throughout Latin America. The Department has received telegrams from numerous Latin American press associations protesting against the arrest of these men. A particularly unfortunate impression has been created because of the trial of these individuals by court martial for what are reported to be trivial offenses.
In view of the continued agitation, you are instructed to state to the Military Governor that the Department hopes that it may be possible to conclude the trials at an early date and to express to him the opinion of the Department that unless the penalty imposed be light, in the event that these men are convicted, Lugo and his companions will become martyrs in the estimation of the Dominican public generally and the action of the Military Government will have an unfortunate effect in Latin American countries.
If you have not already done so you are instructed to send by the next mail copies of the Articles upon which the accusations are based.