738.39/260
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Selden Chapin of the Division of the American Republics
Mr. Hoffman Philip called me this morning to say that he had received some information of interest from Abel Léger with regard to the settlement of the Haitian-Dominican dispute. Accordingly, as he was going out for lunch I went to the Metropolitan Club for a conversation with him.
Mr. Philip said that prior to the departure of Monsieur Léger and his associates, Monsieur Dantés Belgarde, and Monsieur Manigat, from Haiti they had drawn up a précis on the conference setting forth the circumstances of the massacres and deportations with a digest of the sworn statements, et cetera. The précis concluded with a summary of demands which the Haitian Government considered must be met by the Dominican Government in order to arrive at a satisfactory settlement. Among these demands were a cash indemnity of $1,500,000, an expression of regret from President Trujillo, a determination of those Dominicans responsible for the outrages with publication of their names and the punishments awarded, and guarantees for the future safety of Haitian life and property on Dominican soil.
Mr. Philip said that Léger informed him yesterday that he had received a cable from President Vincent explaining that when the Nuncio had approached President Vincent with an offer to be of service to him in composing the difficulties between the two nations and had inquired upon what basis President Vincent was prepared to effect a settlement, President Vincent had shown the Nuncio the last part of the précis setting forth the Haitian demands.
The Nuncio had taken note of these demands and had then proceeded to Ciudad Trujillo where he had conferred with the Dominican authorities, including presumably President Trujillo. On his return to Port-au-Prince the Nuncio informed President Vincent that Trujillo stood ready to grant most of these Haitian demands with certain slight modifications as regards a guarantee for the future safety of Haitian lives and property. President Trujillo, however, stated that he was unable to pay $1,500,000 as demanded but offered instead a cash settlement of $750,000. Almost immediately after the Nuncio had delivered these terms, a cable was received from President Trujillo to the effect that he could only pay in cash at the present time $150,000, but that he was willing to obligate himself to pay the balance, $600,000, in installments over a six-year period.
[Page 185]Monsieur Léger informed Mr. Philip that this news had only just been received from President Vincent who had stated in his cable that he was to see Mr. Mayer Sunday and would explain the whole matter to him. While I have no reason to doubt this last statement of Monsieur Léger I may point out in this connection that on Friday afternoon when Monsieur Léger and Monsieur Lescot called to see Mr. Duggan, Léger asked me to give him my personal opinion as to the feasibility in the event that an eventual Dominican indemnity should be paid in installments, of stipulating that these installments be made payable to the Pan American Union for transfer to the Haitian Government. In reply I stated that perhaps it would be best to sound out the Director of the Pan American Union before making such a stipulation but that at first hand I could see no objection if the settlement was indeed to be effected in conjunction with the Permanent Commission, to stipulate that the payments, if accepted, should be made payable to the Chairman of the Permanent Commission.