738.3915/429
The Secretary of State to the Minister in the Dominican Republic (Schoenfeld)
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your confidential despatch No. 436, dated July 13, 1931, transmitting an undated memorandum of the Dominican Government, requesting the mediation of this Government in the interest of a settlement of the present disagreement between the Haitian and Dominican Governments over the delineation of their common boundary.
In response to the Dominican Government’s memorandum under reference, the Department desires you to explain to the Dominican Government its point of view as set forth below leaving a memorandum thereof should that Government so desire and should you perceive no objection thereto:
“The American Minister has the honor to inform you that he has been instructed by his Government to acknowledge the receipt of the undated memorandum which the Dominican Government addressed to his predecessor some weeks ago, setting forth its position in the boundary problem between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti since the signing on January 21, 1929, of the Dominican-Haitian frontier treaty.
“The American Government has examined that memorandum with the care its importance demands. It has noted the desire of the Dominican Government that the mediation of the Government of the United States be directed to the end that the Haitian Government resume compliance with the obligations which it assumed by the Treaty of January [Page 787] 21, 1929, in order that the execution thereof be terminated and that the old and troublesome frontier controversy be ended. It is furthermore observed that the Dominican Government recommends that should the proposed mediation by the Government of the United States fail to induce the Government of Haiti to comply with the request of the Government of the Dominican Republic that it abandon lands of which it has allegedly taken improper possession, the Dominican Government hopes that the Government of the United States will not permit officers of its armed forces (who may be serving with the Garde d’Haiti) to oppose the action which the Dominican Army may take in favor of national integrity.
“Mr. Schoenfeld is directed to point out in response that the Government of the United States did not proffer its mediation in the controversy which unfortunately had been renewed between the two sister republics when it dispatched to this Legation its telegraphic instruction of May 29, 1931. The purpose of the United States Government was only to indicate its apprehension upon the receipt of information regarding alleged instructions given to the Dominican Army with respect to the attitude which it should assume on the frontier, and to bring to the attention of the Dominican Government not only the natural concern which the Government of the United States entertained with respect to a situation which might have tended to impair the good relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti but also to point out the fact that members of the United States armed forces are at present incorporated into the Garde d’Haiti, in consequence of which any operations involving that organization would be of immediate and grave interest to the Government of the United States. It was not intended that this friendly message should be interpreted by the Government of the Dominican Republic as a proffer of good offices—which, in fact, had not been solicited by either the Dominican Republic or the Republic of Haiti.
“Moreover, the American Government holds the opinion, after a careful study of the memorandum under acknowledgment, that measures to meet the present situation are provided for by the Dominican-Haitian frontier treaty signed at Santo Domingo January 21, 1929, Articles 4 and 7 of which seem in its opinion to contain provisions whereunder a satisfactory adjustment can be arrived at.
“At the same time the American Government feels that in candoi and in the interests of good understanding it should point out that information which it considers to be authentic indicates that no disposition has been made of Haitian forces directed against the Government of the Dominican Republic. It would appear, therefore, that the controversy which has arisen with respect to the demarcation of the common boundary line is limited in its scope to a situation which is adequately provided for by the treaty itself.
“In consequence, Mr. Schoenfeld has been directed to express the hope of his Government that through direct negotiations or through the employment of the methods prescribed in the treaty, the two Governments will find it possible harmoniously to adjust the situation to which allusion has been made, thus bringing to a satisfactory conclusion the work so admirably begun by the boundary treaty of 1929.”
Very truly yours,