Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The American Republics, Volume V

711.38/310: Telegram

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

Washington, July 17, 1939—8 p.m.

73. Your telegram 95 [97], July 15, 2 p.m.¹² Although every consideration has been given to your views, the Department does not believe that they raise any new aspects of the situation and accordingly desires you to proceed as instructed.

If you desire you may refer again to the Department’s telegram no. 28 of March 30, 3 p.m., which it is felt amply covers the second part of President Vincent’s program. With respect to the penultimate paragraph of that telegram, in case the Haitian Government should desire to make a declaration such as that envisaged, you are instructed to make it unmistakably clear in advance that this Government cannot conceive of any reason at the present time which might render it necessary and advisable to establish defensive military or naval works, an emergency air base or any military or naval station of any kind in any foreign country or possession in the Caribbean except in countries with which this Government already has treaty permission. Forewarned by a knowledge of these intentions of this Government, President Vincent might prefer not to make any declaration.

In conclusion, the Department is mystified by the apparently continuous feeling of insecurity with respect to external aggression which you state exists in Haiti. Despite occasional alarmist reports, there appears to be no deep-seated similar feeling in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, or any other part of this hemisphere. While of course this Government cannot undertake to give any guarantees, it should be obvious from the geographical location of Haiti that the Government of the United States would never willingly permit any non-American power to establish a dangerous foothold in Haiti, and would be prepared in last analysis to use its military and naval forces to preclude such a possibility. The feeling of insecurity, the Department suspects, derives more from a fear of the Dominican Republic, rather than of non-American powers. To avoid complications, it is clear that the Haitian Government should conduct itself in a peaceful and correct attitude toward the neighboring republic. If despite such a policy, difficulties arise, the disposition of this Government to be helpful is apparent from its efforts at the time of the Haitian-Dominican boundary controversy.¹³

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hull

12. Not printed.
13. See Foreign Relations, 1938, vol. v, pp. 178 ff.