033.3811/1
The High Commissioner in Haiti (Russell) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that this morning President Borno spoke to me about the possibility of his making a trip to the United States during the month of June, next.
He stated that it would be necessary to carry on negotiations with the United States Government in order to find out if such a trip would be acceptable or not. I told him that I felt that there would be no difficulty in obtaining such assurance and that I thought a short trip would be productive of excellent results but, of course, it would have to be made at the expense of the Haitian Government.
I suggested that in New York, President Borno would have the opportunity of talking with business men regarding conditions in Haiti and the policy of his Government, and that it might be of inestimable benefit by improving the commercial relations between the two countries.
President Borno also stated that he would like to have a long talk with President Coolidge, if he made such a trip but that he had as yet come to no decision in the matter and would talk to me later about it.
If President Borno decided to visit the United States, I have the honor to suggest that the Department consider the advisability of placing an appropriate United States Government vessel at his disposal to take him from Port-au-Prince to New York and return him to Port-au-Prince at the expiration of his visit, which I do not believe will be [Page 399] for a longer period than about two weeks. This suggestion is made as I believe that it would be deeply appreciated by President Borno, particularly as the accommodations on the regular steamers running from Port-au-Prince are unable to furnish appropriate accommodations and service for such a trip.
I have [etc.]