838.51/3967: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:30 p.m.]
101. Department’s No. 97, June 26, 6 p.m. and my despatches Nos. 896 June 19, 901 June 22, 903 June 24 and 904 June 25 on the same subject.15
During a recent conversation with President Vincent I inquired into the proposed Groven loan. While attempting to play it down President Vincent admitted that preliminary discussions had taken place and had resulted in an exchange of letters. He indicated his desire to use the communal funds for a loan of this character saying that he had discussed this frequently with Mr. De la Rue who was thoroughly conversant with his ideas.
President Vincent left the middle of the week for a stay of some 10 days or 2 weeks in the north. The Minister for External Affairs16 has joined him. In the circumstances and in order to make sure that the Department’s point of view is clearly on record I am sending a [Page 889] private letter to President Vincent in the sense of paragraph 2 of the Department’s no. 97, June 26, 6 p.m.
With regard to a discussion of the economic situation with President Vincent as suggested in paragraph 3 of the Department’s telegram under reference I recommend that this might better await the conclusion of the proposed consultations of the American Republics, the receipt and study by the Department of the basic report now in process of preparation by the Legation, and the general discussion on this subject planned to take place at the Department toward the end of July.
In order that our aid to Haiti may be most effectively assembled and coordinated with efforts which in turn the Haitian Government itself will have to envisage and execute I recommend that the Department withhold publication of a reduction of the interest rate on the Export-Import Bank credit and of token amortization payment on 1922 loan and all other aids of this nature excepting the increase in the White program already notified to the Haitian Government until after an opportunity for consideration of the whole subject in July.
The same reasoning applies to the organization and employment of communal revenues discussion of which I believe should also be deferred as indicated.