836.48 1930 Hurricane/34: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in the Dominican Republic (Curtis)
47. Colonel Cutts has informed the Navy Department that Trujillo had made a personal request that a marine officer be assigned as food administrator at Santo Domingo. The Navy is prepared to designate Major Thomas Watson, a personal friend of Trujillo’s. Any request of this nature should, of course, be made through you but in this instance in view of the emergency the Department does not wish to insist upon communication through diplomatic channels. It desires, however, to know whether you think Watson’s designation would be helpful and advisable, and whether you would rather have him designated as Attaché of the Legation or merely loaned in some other capacity. Please rush reply.