838.00 Commission of Investigation/132, 143: Telegram
The Chairman of the President’s Commission (Forbes) to President Hoover
[Received March 11.]
3. The President’s Commission understands that its plan was acceptable both to President Borno and the Opposition. It was made public on the afternoon of Sunday, March 9th. The President’s Commission left Port-au-Prince on Sunday morning, March 9th, for [Page 201] a trip into the interior. It learned on Monday morning, March 10th, at Hinche by seeing a copy of the telegram that President Borno had telegraphed the prefects on March 8 setting forth among other things that the news propagated by political agitators was false; that there would be no Provisional Government; that the Council of State would elect new President; and that there would be no legislative elections before 1932. The Commission received telephone messages to the effect that this had caused concern in Opposition circles. Considerable excitement prevails. High Commissioner Russell telephoned us stating that he had been informed of the situation and had tried to have President Borno correct the impression caused by his telegram by informing the prefects of his approval of the Commission’s plan which President Borno has so far refused to do. The situation, therefore, is somewhat complicated. No compromise candidate for temporary President had been, or has been, agreed upon. The Commission understands that High Commissioner Russell is trying to straighten out the situation with President Borno.
The Commission will return to Port-au-Prince on the evening of Wednesday, March 12th, and will immediately resume negotiations; it plans, after making visits to several other ports, to sail for Florida about March 18th.
A telegram received from Port-au-Prince at 11 p.m. states that satisfactory progress is being made.