838.51/1128: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Bailly-Blanchard) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 13—10 a.m.]
56. Department’s 44, August 5, 5 p.m. Instructions complied with. Acting Financial Adviser states that not receiving the advice promised in the Department’s 42, July 26, 6 p.m.29 and having received the following statement from the Minister of Finance (translation):
“My colleague of Foreign Relations has received letters from the Haitian Minister in Washington advising him that in an interview with Messrs. Welles30 and McIlhenny he was told that measures would be taken so that there would be no hindrance to the payment for the month of July”,
he agreed with the Minister of Finance that in view of the July receipts exceeding expectations viz. $303,000, and of the transfer by the Minister of Finance of Government internal receipts amounting to $40,000 and by using $110,000 from the $175,000 set aside for the July interest and amortization there would be sufficient funds to meet July expenses in full, payments were then regularly begun on August 3.
No formal announcement of his intention as expressed in letter of July 1st, 1921, was made to the Haitian Government.
Mr. Maumus requests to be advised whether Department’s instructions to pay salaries President, Cabinet Ministers, Legislative Council and Judges of the Supreme Court means that they must have precedence of payment over Gendarmerie, Sanitary Engineer and Engineer of Haiti for August and whether the settlement as now outlined for July has the approval of the Department.
If the payments to the President and officials named have precedence over Gendarmerie would this not be contrary to article 5 of the treaty?