711.38/305

The Minister in Haiti (Mayer) to the Secretary of State

No. 564

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed in translation6 a portion of a chapter of the new book shortly to be issued by President Vincent entitled Imposant les Jalons (Marking Out the Fundamentals).

This declaration, for such it really is, appeared in large type headlines across the front page of all the newspapers of yesterday, July the fourth. Both President Vincent and the Minister of Foreign Affairs told me quite plainly at the Legation Reception that this declaration was published on that day both as a compliment to the United States and because the contents of the declaration were concerned so intimately with the close relations which President Vincent considered his country should have with the United States of America.

The declaration begins with a carefully thought out and expressed exposition of the point of view of our country and its desires with respect to the peace of the world, our attitude toward hemispheric defense and, in some detail, the strategic and tactical position of the [Page 641] Greater Antilles in the whole scheme of the defense of the United States and of the Americas in the event of war.

This exposition and argumentation leads up to the following final statements: (Translation)

“It is, therefore, evident that our (Haitian) geographic position assigns to us a role of the first importance in the strategy providing for the defense of the Western Hemisphere. Since these are the facts, which cannot be otherwise, does it not seem that the moment has come to give concrete and effective form to the continental solidarity solemnly proclaimed at Buenos Aires7 and at Lima,8 as well as by the particular declarations of the Governments concerned?

“While it has been well understood that in case of war or a menace of war on our continent consultations would take place to eliminate this menace, yet the menace of war is permanent today and war is more and more apt to come by surprise. The independence of states is frequently crushed without a blow being struck and a policy of ‘fait accompli’ tends to be substituted for the rules of international law. War is now made without any declaration, since juridically and to take a present example, there is no war between Japan and China.

“Secondly, it is necessary in safeguarding peace always to be ready to make war. There is no longer time to ‘consult’, when the moment to act has already struck. Isn’t it much wiser to determine in advance conditions and the form of collaboration and cooperation for each of us in the work of common defense, envisaged perhaps a little too theoretically until now? It is not when the conflagration has been lighted that the means should be established for the preservation of the houses so menaced. Having decided to act together, each American state should be ready on the line to help extinguish the flames.

“It is for these reasons that I suggested the conclusion some months ago within the framework of the principles proclaimed at Buenos Aires and Lima, of a Mutual Assistance Pact between the United States of America and the three governments of the Antillean Ocean, since in case of peril and by reason of their geographic position they constitute the principal bases for the defense of our continent. This Pact, once concluded, could be extended to the other nations of the Americas. It would contribute without any doubt not only to the assurance of a continuity of the humane Policy of the Good Neighbor, inaugurated and pursued by President Roosevelt, but also it would definitely establish that common security in the shadow of which our country, as well as the countries closest to the United States, will discover the only ‘climat’ in which they could favorably find their evolution in peace and in prosperity”.

As President Vincent indicates in the closing paragraph of the above quotation, he and his Minister of Foreign Affairs have discussed [Page 642] this matter of a Mutual Assistance Pact both with Mr. Duggan, the Chief of the Division of American Republics, during his visit here last February and with myself on several occasions. President Vincent brought the matter up again only a week ago. Indeed, M. Laleau has several times stated to me that President Vincent desires not only such a Mutual Assistance Pact, but, in order to make it “concrete” and to the best advantage for all concerned, he envisages the establishment in Haiti of an United States military base, either on the island of Gonave or on the mainland, under American Navy or Army control, or both;—in fact, wherever and whatever we desire. In pursuing this whole question with me yesterday at our Fourth of July Reception I gathered from Laleau that President Vincent wishes this “concrete” accompaniment of a Mutual Assistance Pact in whatever form we would consider most practicable.

I beg to refer at this point to my telegrams No. 37 and No. 38 of March 23rd and 24th, 1939, and the Department’s reply No. 28 of March 30th.

Following out the Department’s instructions, I have in the past discouraged President Vincent and the Minister of Foreign Affairs with respect to a Mutual Assistance Pact, etc. I have indicated that, with the large scale fortifications planned for Puerto Rico, Haiti’s immediate defense problems would seem to be automatically provided for and that, furthermore, in such circumstances there would seem to be no necessity for any military works on this island. As to the Pact itself, I have indicated to President Vincent the possible embarrassment with respect to the Policy of Pan Americanism. Despite these discouragements on my part, the idea of a Mutual Assistance Pact and the establishment of some form of American military base in Haiti has continued to occupy President Vincent’s mind, until I rather feel that it is now an idée fixe. In proof of this we now have the public declaration, as reported in this despatch.

While there is every reason to believe that these are President Vincent’s considered wishes, I took occasion in a recent conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when this subject was broached, to ask him to ascertain exactly what President Vincent’s desires may be in the premises. M. Laleau said that he would be seeing the President at Kenscoff within the next day or two and would report to me the result of his conversation. I shall, therefore, hope to communicate further with the Department on this subject at an early date.

Respectfully yours,

Ferdinand L. Mayer
  1. Not printed.
  2. See Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 1–23, 1936 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1937).
  3. See Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Eighth International Conference of American States, Lima, Peru, December 9–27, 1938 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1941).