839.00/2777: Telegram
The Commissioner in the Dominican Republic (Welles) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—7:20 p.m.]
69. The Commission yesterday determined upon the list of candidates to be presented in accordance with the regulations to the President in order that he may select therefrom the substitute [for the] present Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction and the substitute of [for] the present Secretary of [Sanitation] and Charities. As soon as that selection is made the reorganization of the Executive departments of the Provisional Government will be [completed]. As the Department has been informed in my telegram of December 12, 4 p.m., the Provisional Government so reorganized will continue to function until the Plan of Evacuation is completely carried out unless by a majority vote the Commission determines to remove one of the members thereof.
[Page 916]The Commission has now adopted the final project of amendment to the election law and has formally accepted the lists of persons constituting the new provincial and municipal electoral boards as well [as] the [lists?] of new appointees to governorships, ayu[ntamientos], etc., as proposed in the agreement entered into between the two parties. There remain to be agreed upon but a few minor questions which I do not anticipate will provoke dissension. It has been my constant effort to expedite the promulgation of the decrees necessary to insure the execution of the agreement entered into between the two parties but unforeseen circumstances such as the refusal of the Coalition Party to agree to the continuation of Señor Troncoso as Secretary of the Interior have caused material delays. The first of the necessary decrees have now been transmitted to the President and the remainder will be transmitted before December 26th. It is therefore my hope the date of the elections will be announced before January 1st and that the elections will consequently be held not later than February 26th.