611.3831/101: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Armour)

100. Reference your 134, December 29, 2 p.m., which crossed Department’s 99, December 29, 4 p.m. Please say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs

(1)
As regards his first proposition no authority of law exists for its acceptance and there is no expectation of change in the law;
(2)
His second proposition is based on a policy of seeking immediate advantages through bilateral balancing of trade and is directly contrary to the broad policy of reduction of tariff barriers and increase in general world trade approved at the Montevideo Conference [Page 333] and being followed by this Government in all its trade agreement negotiations. You will please say to the Minister that neither of his propositions is acceptable to this Government.

On the other hand, as stated in our 99, if the Haitian Government will submit counter proposals on specific items within the spirit of the broad trade policy which both Haiti and the United States had agreed to follow on entering into these negotiations, we shall be glad to give them immediate and favorable consideration.

Hull