711.38/306: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Mayer)
71. Personal for the Minister from the Under Secretary. Your 94, July 11, 10 a.m.10 and despatches 564, July 5 and 566, July 8.11 For the reasons set forth below, you should call immediately upon President Vincent and express the following views:
Please inform him that the Government fully appreciates the motives which have led him once again to advance a concept for a mutual assistance pact in the Caribbean. This Government is deeply gratified to have this renewed assurance of M. Vincent’s support of the doctrine of continental solidarity, and this further evidence of his friendship, and that of his country, for the United States.
You should tell him that the President and this Government are working day and night to avoid the holocaust of war. At the same time, and in order to be prepared for any emergency, prudence naturally dictates that all possible measures shall be taken for the defense of this hemisphere. With this in view, suggestions for mutual assistance pacts have been put forward from time to time. President Vincent has again put forward this suggestion.
As the result of the careful consideration that has been given to these projects, the statement of policy was developed as set forth in the Department’s telegrain no. 28 of March 30, 3 p.m. In as much as President [Page 644] Vincent has once again raised his suggestion despite your best efforts, I believe the time has come for you to make it unmistakably clear to him that since the earliest days of this Republic, it has been and still is a basic principle of policy to decline, irrespective of circumstances, to enter into any offensive or defensive alliance. This cardinal principle of policy has invariably received the fullest support of the American people. Please, therefore, state unequivocally that the United States cannot consider participating in any pact or alliance for mutual assistance even with its nearest neighbors.
The present policy of this Government with respect to consultation, collaboration and cooperation for the defense of this hemisphere in case of any threat to peace is clearly stated in the Declaration of Lima. Exchanges of views with the President of Haiti and with other Haitian officials on this subject will always be welcome but this Government cannot enter into commitments of the sort contemplated.
You should, of course, reiterate this Government’s high appreciation of the sentiments which have motivated President Vincent in this matter and assure him that due note has been taken of his laudable interest in making available facilities for the common defense of this hemisphere, an interest which this Government hopes will continue unabated.
For your strictly confidential information, I realize that despite your best efforts the recent announcement of President Vincent was unexpected and possibly unavoidable. It would be most unfortunate were he to proceed further with this project by endeavoring to enlist the participation of neighboring countries. I feel sure that you will be able to convince President Vincent to abandon his proposal thereby avoiding embarrassment both to the Haitian Government and to the United States. [Welles.]