738.39/258: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4 p.m.]
9. After his long explanation of the Calixte resignation,10 the President talked to me at length yesterday afternoon respecting the Haitian-Dominican affair.
He declared, and read me his telegrams to Washington in support, that he was not in direct negotiation with the Dominican Government. In the same breath he revealed that some days ago he had authorized the Nuncio who went to Ciudad Trujillo just before the new year to discuss the matter informally with Trujillo outlining briefly to the Nuncio the various points which Haiti desired to have in a settlement including a million-dollar indemnity. Vincent said that the Nuncio had returned recently quite optimistic claiming to have found Trujillo in general accord on all the points except the indemnity which he said Trujillo would be willing to make $775,000. The Nuncio was returning to Ciudad Trujillo in 2 days and hoped to arrive at a basis of agreement as described which the two Presidents could initial and which Vincent would send to his delegation at Washington for submission to the Permanent Commission. Vincent stated repeatedly that the sine qua non of any settlement of the Haitian-Dominican affair was its sanction by the Permanent submission [Commission?].
Despite repeated efforts on my part I seemed unable to convince Vincent that the Nuncio’s efforts were “direct negotiations”. Vincent launched forth in a long explanation of what he was after, all in line with what I have frequently reported, namely, negotiations of the character now being carried on by the Nuncio, and probably here and in Washington, which would result in some rapid solution with the final blessing and under the protective aegis of the Permanent Commission.
[Page 182]Vincent explained at length that since the inter-American treaty structure under which he was acting was primarily concerned with peace and bringing the two parties together for a solution of any difficulties it was immaterial whether such a solution was achieved by conciliation under framework of Permanent Commission or by commission ad hoc both of which had conciliatory functions under treaty. Vincent stressed fact that Dominican interests had not accepted competence of Commission of Inquiry; that unless he arrived at some immediate solution such as now sought through the “Christian” influence of the Nuncio, he could only fear an impasse and weeks or months of further bickering and delay. This he felt would be most disadvantageous politically in Haiti and undesirable from every point of view, implying fear of Trujillo.
I went over several times the various arguments with respect to the immediate setting up of the ad hoc commission, the danger for Haiti in any other course, et cetera. This seemed to make no impression on the President whether on account of his rather exhausted state or otherwise I do not know, but probably otherwise.
My guess is that it is a question of fright…menace and temptation, resulting in the hope that Trujillo really means what he says and is willing to come to a satisfactory settlement. I only hope it will not prove as illusory as the French loan prospect.11