339.115 General Motors Export Co./4: Telegram

The Minister in the Dominican Republic (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State

20. Department’s telegram 8, April 16, 3 p.m. Up to the present time the Italian Minister has been refused permission to see Barletta. Yesterday local court in which supposed judicial proceedings against Barletta are pending fixed bail in the case at $250,000 in cash or $375,000 in real property. Deegan representative of General Motors Acceptance Corporation informed me yesterday that court had asked Santo Domingo Motors Company for comparative statement “to be added to the record” of the value of automotive products sold by the company to the Dominican Government during the Vasquez administration and during the Trujillo administration.

Whatever the real motive may be the matter has been given distinctly political complexion by the action of the Dominican Government. Consequently I apprehend that without more categorical instructions from the Department efforts to arrange for Todd to communicate with Barletta would be futile.

Schoenfeld