738.39/263: Telegram

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

5. Legation’s telegram No. 2, January 8, noon. The Foreign Minister informed me this morning that Despradel is proceeding to Washington at once. He said that the direct negotiations conducted in Washington between Abel Léger and Troncoso de la Concha were progressing toward an agreement on the idemnity to be paid by the Dominican Government. He hoped therefore that it would be possible shortly to report to the Permanent Commission that a solution satisfactory to Haiti had been found.

The Foreign Minister characterized as false the report that 500 men have been recruited for the Dominican Army but admitted that an increase of the reserve force was contemplated which would bring the total number of effectives to 4,000.

Repeated to Port-au-Prince.

Norweb