839.51/3833
The Minister in the Dominican Republic (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose for the Department’s information translation of editorial comment30 appearing in today’s edition of the newspaper Listín Diario advocating the suspension of interest payments on the foreign debt of the Dominican Republic on the ground that such a measure is required by existing economic conditions in this country.
The article seems noteworthy at this time in view of the confidential negotiations recently begun by this Government to secure a modification of the Emergency Law and further suspension of amortization payments on the foreign debt. Since the existence of these negotiations is supposed to be unknown to the public and the press, it is probable that the article herewith transmitted has been inspired from official sources, in order to prepare the public mind for any modification of the Emergency Plan that may prove practicable and more advantageous to this Government than the existing law. The article has aroused considerable interest in Santo Domingo and has served to crystallize rumors which have been current lately that some undefined modification in the Emergency Plan was under consideration. The fact that the article appeared in Listín Diario rather than in La Opiníon, which is more frequently used for officially inspired press comment, may also have significance in that editorial comment in the Listín is usually interpreted as a spontaneous expression of independent opinion.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩