838.00/2978: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti ( Munro ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:31 p.m.]
52. Department’s telegram No. 34 of June 2, 1 p.m. last paragraph. While I hope that it will be possible to conclude the Haitianization negotiations promptly, I am becoming less confident of this because [Page 476] of internal political situation. There is a strong possibility that we shall see further changes in the Cabinet during the next few weeks. No faction here is so much interested in Haitianization as it is in internal politics. The opposition is making much political capital of the Government’s alleged subservience to the United States and the Government, partly for this reason, is becoming more difficult to deal with. On the basis of information given out by the former Cabinet and information received from Washington, the opposition leaders are assuming as already obtained most of the concessions which we shall be able to make and centering their attack on questions like the continued existence of the treaty itself and the continued presence of marines with regard to which they know that the Government cannot and would not wish to obtain any immediate changes. Under the circumstances it is very probable that the Government will be afraid when the time comes to accept any general plan of Haitianization and the leaders who for their own political purposes are promoting the present agitation, will doubtless make the conclusion of an agreement as difficult as possible.
It is obvious, however, that we cannot permit this internal political situation to prevent us from executing our own policy of withdrawal. I assume that what the Department desires is Haitianization either by agreement or by our own action. If we once obtain settlement of the Colvin question, we shall have no particular interest in a general agreement. If the Government is in a position to conclude promptly the general agreement, this will obviously be desirable, but if it is not we shall be free to proceed ourselves with such measures of Haitianization as we consider advisable. I think, in fact, that we should proceed to do whatever seems immediately advisable in each service while still continuing the general negotiations. I believe that this procedure will be satisfactory to the Haitian Government.
It probably would not be very difficult under this procedure to reach agreements regarding the Public Works, Public Health Service, and the Service Technique. With regard to the Garde, the Department will doubtless wish to consider my telegram number 49, of June 1, 2 p.m., before sending further instructions. In the financial services, I should withhold all concessions except those to which we have already committed ourselves until the signature and [?] of the proposed new treaty.