738.3915/335
The Minister in the Dominican Republic
(Young)
to the Secretary of
State
Santo Domingo, February 20, 1928.
[Received February
28.]
No. 790
Sir: Adverting to the Legation’s telegram
No. 15 of February 15, 1928,82 I have the honor to forward herewith
translations of the notes exchanged by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sanchez and the Haitian Minister expressing the desire of both
Governments to undertake a
[Page 707]
settlement of the boundary question. The notes are dated January 20
and 21, respectively, but they were in fact exchanged on February
13th.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure
1—Translation]
The Dommican Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Sanchez) to the
Haitian Minister in the Dominican Republic (Dejean)
[Santo Domingo,]
January 20,
1928.
Mr. Minister: The Government of the
Dominican Republic, convinced of the necessity, under which the
Haitian people and the Dominican people are, of harmonizing
their conflicting interests and of comprehending how a common
destiny holds them linked in the same future of progress and of
improvement, has, obedient to the feeling of friendship and of
sincere sympathy which presides over the relations of our two
Governments, deemed it opportune to invite Your Excellency’s
Government to recognize, as my Government recognizes, the
expedience of reaching a definitive accord, frank and open,
which shall put a happy end to the difficulties which, in
connection with the pending frontier question, have frequently
been present in the relations of these peoples with evident
diminution of their tranquility and welfare.
In making this declaration, the Dominican Government entertains
the hope that neither of the parties will spare its efforts to
arrive at a final understanding which will permit definitively
resolving the pending frontier question between both countries,
in order that thus, with old motives of suspicion and distrust
removed from their relations, they may unite with firmness their
necessities and their aspirations on the road of
civilization.
The Dominican Government is certain that no other moment will be
more propitious than is this for accomplishing its purpose of
rapprochement between the two States,
now that the evidences of cordiality and sympathy which both
peoples have just offered on the occasion of the visits of their
respective Chiefs of State, demonstrate with certainty that the
differences which separated them in the past were the
consequence of the little acquaintance which the two nations had
of each other.
This disposition, Mr. Minister, is indicative of the sincere
desire, in which my Government persists, of furnishing a
solution of the frontier difference and of arriving, in
accordance with the provisions of our Public Law, contained in
Article 3 of the Constitution of the State, at a conclusion of
the difficulties which, in connection with that conflict, have
separated our two peoples. The Dominican Government
[Page 708]
through me declares to
the Haitian Government that it will make every effort it can to
facilitate the understanding which it mentions, for the felicity
of these peoples called, for many reasons, to live a similar
future and to face a similar destiny.
I approve the opportunity [etc.]
[Enclosure
2—Translation]
The Haitian Minister in the Dominican
Republic (Dejean) to the
Dominican Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sanchez)
[Santo Domingo,]
January 21,
1928.
Mr. Secretary of State: I have
transmitted to my Government the important communication which
Your Excellency addressed to me [on the 20th of January
instant], relative to the question of the frontiers, and I have
received instructions to transmit to you the following:
The Government of Haiti, equally convinced of the necessity, more
imperious than ever, of consolidating, to perpetuate them
through time, the relations of friendship and of good
neighborhood which exist between the two countries, is happy to
affirm again its conviction, in conformity with that of the
Dominican Government, that it is expedient to put an end so soon
as possible to the existing difficulties on the subject of the
frontiers.
It believes that the present time is particularly favorable to
the realization of this accord, in view of the excellent
disposition which animates the two Governments and which has
just been so brilliantly manifested by the visits of the two
Chiefs of State, a disposition which harmonizes completely with
the sentiments of mutual sympathy so spontaneously expressed by
the two peoples in the course of these visits.
The Haitian Government in consequence declares itself ready to
conclude, by direct negotiations with the Dominican Government
and without recourse to arbitration, a treaty which definitely
assures the drawing of the frontier on the basis of the
possessions which the two States at present occupy and by means
of reciprocal sacrifices in conformity with equity and with
their common interest.
The Haitian Government has the firm hope that the Dominican
Government will spare no effort with a view to obtaining this
frank, open solution, more in conformity with the permanent
interest of the two nations.
I am [etc.]
