339.115 General Motors Export Co./⅙: Telegram
The Minister in the Dominican Republic (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:45 p.m.]
11. I am informed that Mr. Amadeo Barletta honorary Italian Consul in Santo Domingo and president of Santo Domingo Motors Company and of Dominican Tobacco Company respectively was arrested on his arrival at San Pedro de Macoris by air from San Juan this morning and is detained in the fortress here. I understand that clerk of the Italian Consulate has telegraphed the Italian Minister at Habana but there is some question whether this telegram which was sent in clear was permitted to go out.
See enclosures to my personal letters of March 14 and March 161 to the Chief of Division of Latin American Affairs. American citizens including officers of General Motors Export Company of New York and Penn Tobacco Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania are understood to have substantial stock interest in companies mentioned of which Barletta is president. No official information is available as to reasons for detention of the Consul nor has it been announced whether his exequatur has been canceled. Suggest that Department cause Italian Legation at Havana to be advised if no objection to so doing is seen.
- Not found in Department files.↩