339.3921L96/34

The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Secretary of State

Op–13
16870–517:9

Sir: In reference to your letter, LA, of November 16, 1920, requesting that this department advise the State Department whether or not information has been received confirming a report that Horacio Blanco Fombono, Director of the Revista de Letras, is at present confined in Santo Domingo awaiting trial, apparently for offenses similar to those committed by Senor Fabio Fiallo and Senor Amerigo Lugo.

I beg to inform you that in response to a dispatch sent to the Military Governor of Santo Domingo requesting information on this subject, the Military Governor of Santo Domingo reports as follows:

“Untruthful and libelous article and picture was published in Revista de Letras, of which Fombono is director, charging tortures inflicted on Dominicans by American officers. Arrest and confinement of Fombono were absolutely necessary to stop false charges against occupation and to preserve order. He was arrested and kept in confinement for four days awaiting trial. He was tried, convicted, and fined three hundred dollars, and has paid fine and been liberated. Have this date, mailed full report.”

Yours sincerely,

Josephus Daniels