839.00/2743c: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Dominican Republic (Russell)
37. Department informed Dominican Commission, as well as Provisional Government, have agreed to suspend from office for ten days prior to elections all alcaldes pedañeos in the country, as many of these rural officials are reported to be partisan, and to transfer their powers to the local Policia Nacional.
In order to remove all possible grounds for complaint on basis of partisanship the Department believes this period should be prolonged to 45 days commencing October 1. Please present this view to the Provisional Government and endeavor to have change effected.