839.00/2607: Telegram
The Commissioner in the Dominican Republic (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 1—10:35 p.m.]
24. The members of the Commission will commence the task of selecting the members of the Provisional Government on October 2nd. This duty devolving upon them under the provisions of article 2 of the plan of evacuation has been postponed until I was satisfied that certain matters causing friction between the members of the Commission [Page 63] had been satisfactorily adjusted, in view of my belief that the three political parties must be completely satisfied with the composition of the Commission and with the regulations governing its functioning during the life of the Provisional Government if the plan of evacuation is to prove a success. The principal question to which I refer has been the impression gaining in strength throughout the country during the last two weeks that Doctor Peynado was ambitious to be elected to the next constitutional Presidency and that he either had agreed or would agree to become the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party in the next elections. Since such agreement on his part would cause the Liberal Party to have two votes in the Commission whereas the other political parties would have only one vote each, I informed the members of the Commission at a general meeting yesterday that this matter must be definitely settled before the execution of the plan could be so commenced. The matter has been satisfactorily settled I believe by a written statement on the part of Doctor Peynado to the effect that:
- 1.
- He has no understanding, formal or informal, with any political party.
- 2.
- That he has at the same time no desire to obtain the constitutional Presidency in 1923, and
- 3.
- That in the event that he should later determine to announce his candidacy for the Presidency he will first resign from the Commission. This definite statement by Doctor Peynado has satisfied the other members of the Commission.
Since all other obstacles which I can now foresee to the proper functioning of the Commission after the installation of the Provisional Government have likewise been removed the members of the Commission can well proceed with the selection of the members of the Provisional Government. As soon as I receive a reply from the Department to my telegram of September 26, 9 a.m. the wording of the proclamation can be determined and the date of the installation of the Provisional Government can be settled. I assume that the Department shares my opinion that since the requirements of the Military Government concerning the security and rights of the American forces during the continuance of the occupation have been accepted by the Commission and since any delay in the installation of the Provisional Government may give rise to factional disputes and political maneuvers which would create an unfortunate effect at this time, the Provisional Government should be installed at the earliest possible opportunity.