810.24/53
The Chargé in the Dominican Republic (Hinkle) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5, 1939.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s circular telegram of June 27—7 p.m. instructing me to discuss informally and confidentially with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the information in the Department’s telegram concerning the joint resolution now before Congress providing for our cooperation with the other Republics of America in supplying them on their request certain naval and military material for purposes of defense. In accordance with the Department’s instruction the comments of the Foreign Minister were solicited and, as reported in my telephone conversation of June 28 with Mr. Chapin,4 he did not hesitate to assure me that his Government naturally viewed with favor any such resolution. The points in the Department’s telegram were explained carefully to the Minister who expressed great interest in the matter.
The Dominican Republic, as the Department is aware, has at various times sought from us military and naval material, and the joint resolution would no doubt cause further inquiries on its part.
Respectfully yours,
- Selden Chapin, Assistant Chief, Division of the American Republics.↩