738.3915/421: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in the Dominican Republic (Curtis)
20. Please state immediately to the appropriate authorities of the Dominican Republic that this Government is greatly disturbed by the instructions said to have been addressed to the Dominican Army with respect to the attitude it should assume on the Dominican-Haitian frontier, as reported by Minister Munro in his telegram dated May 28, 8 p.m., repeated to your Legation.
Point out that beyond the natural concern which this Government feels with respect to any situation which might tend to impair the [Page 772] good relations existing between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, lies its further interest arising out of the fact that the Garde d’Haiti is largely officered by members of the United States Marine Corps. Any act of aggression against the Garde would consequently be a matter of immediate and grave interest to this Government.
It is the Department’s understanding that the Treaty of January 21, 1929,4 has been made effective by the demarcation of the boundary between the two Republics. Accordingly any controversies regarding boundary matters would appear to be susceptible of expeditious and satisfactory adjustment through conversations by the two Governments.
You may add that this Government confidently expects that the Dominican Government will rescind any orders which if executed might precipitate conflict with the Haitian Garde. You may say at the same time that the Department is requesting the American Minister at Port au Prince to urge upon the Haitian Government that it take steps which will tend to prevent any aggressive action by the Garde.
- League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cv, p. 193.↩