838.51/3538: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 p.m.]
17. Referring to my telephone conversation this morning with regard to the note to be delivered to the Haitian Government in reply to its note of January 11, 1938, I submit herewith the draft of the proposed reply:
“Excellency, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s note dated January 11, 1938, describing the financial difficulties which are being experienced by the Haitian Government, due you state, in large part to the recent abrupt decline of coffee prices in the world markets, the measures the Haitian Government has taken [Page 589] in the hope of overcoming these difficulties, and stating that in spite of these efforts the Haitian Government will not be able during the period January 1–September 30, 1938, inclusive, to maintain the essential services of the Government and, simultaneously, the full amortization service on the outstanding bonds of the loan of 1922.”
Here follows a repetition of the Haitian Government’s note of January 11, 1938, repeated to you over the telephone this morning beginning with “to sum up, the Government can not look forward to obtaining in the course of the present year” and continuing to the end of the note including the proposed accord in the English text.
In conclusion my reply would say:
“Pursuant to instructions which I have received from the Secretary of State I now have the honor to inform Your Excellency that I am authorized to sign this accord on behalf of the Government of the United States. I await, therefore, an indication of Your Excellency’s pleasure as to the time and place for signing the proposed accord.
Accept, Excellency, et cetera.”