839.51/4530

Memorandum by Mr. Selden Chapin of the Division of the American Republics

Conversation: Señor Pastoriza, Minister of the Dominican Republic,
Mr. Duggan,
Mr. Chapin.

The Dominican Minister called by appointment to see Mr. Duggan in connection with his suggested additions to the draft protocol amending the 1924 Convention between the United States and the Dominican Republic.

In response to questioning Señor Pastoriza stated that his most recent suggestions were not to be taken by themselves as a protocol, but were to be incorporated with the previous suggestions for a protocol amending the Convention submitted by him and by Dr. Enríquez Ureña. Señor Pastoriza stated that the latest suggestions were purely unofficial and represented merely his own ideas since they had not been officially approved by his Government. Mr. Chapin pointed out that it was a little difficult to analyze the suggestions as they stood by themselves and that it would be preferable to see them physically incorporated with the other draft and to examine the modified draft as a whole. Señor Pastoriza stated he appreciated this and that this would be done subsequent to his return to the Dominican Republic. He added that he expected to leave at almost any time. Señor Pastoriza, [Page 466] in response to a question from Mr. Duggan, said that he was quite willing to insert another paragraph in his suggestions covering the rights and duties of the “Fiscal Representative” who was to replace the General Receiver of Customs. It was his idea that while the actual running of the customs would pass to the Dominican Government, the Fiscal Representative to be appointed by the Foreign Bondholders Protective Council would have the right to inspect at all times and to make known his recommendations to the Dominican Government. Señor Pastoriza was somewhat evasive as regards Mr. Duggan’s direct question whether the Dominican Government would consider itself bound to accept the suggestions and recommendations of the Fiscal Representative in the case of the report of irregularities of other similar defects in the administration of the customs.

Mr. Duggan then presented Señor Pastoriza with copies of our latest trade agreements with Costa Rica27 and El Salvador.28 He suggested that the Minister might care to look them over, paying particular attention to the general provisions. Señor Pastoriza promised that he would refer them to his Government upon his return to the Dominican Republic with a view to determining whether the general provisions were satisfactory in principle to the Government. Mr. Duggan explained to the Minister that we were prepared to go ahead with exploratory conversations on a trade agreement touching these general provisions but that pending the final outcome of the sugar legislation nothing could be done with respect to granting a concession to the Dominican Republic on sugar or sugar products.

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S[elden] C[hapin]
  1. Signed November 28, 1936, Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 102, or 50 Stat. 1582; see also Foreign Relations, 1936, vol. v, pp. 373 ff.
  2. Signed February 19, 1937, Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 101, or 50 Stat. 156; for previous correspondence, see ibid., pp. 558 ff.