838.51/4077: Telegram
The Chargé in Haiti (Sparks) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:36 p.m.]
175. Referring to my telegram No. 171, October 7, 6 p.m., President Vincent handed me today a very lengthy note in which he endeavors with old and some new arguments to establish the impossibility of fiscalizing the communal revenues.
He declares that it would be extremely imprudent to decrease the pay or to establish any difference of pay in the enlisted personnel of the Garde which would certainly be exploited by unscrupulous politicians. With elections about to take place the Government must guard against confusion and anarchy and is obliged to insist that no modification be made in the pay of the Garde.
[Page 913]He declares that while it would be better if the budget could be balanced by other means a drastic reduction in salaries is the most practicable and the least hazardous.
He concludes that the Haitian Government has set forth its viewpoints with the utmost confidence that the American Government will give them every consideration.
President Vincent also handed me a long aide-mémoire. He asserts that the failure to discount the October salaries is causing more anxiety than the drastic reduction itself. He suggests that if the bank discounted up to 50% the situation [apparent omission] eased pending a definitive agreement.
The President declares that every possible precaution has been taken to keep the Garde aloof from politics although not always with success, witness the Calixte affair.42 He suggests that should certain politicians exploit Garde salary reductions disorder and anarchy might result which the Government must prevent. He proceeds to foresee a state of anarchy ideal for subversive activities which in present world conditions could not be regarded indifferently and perhaps the American Government might find itself confronted with the cruel necessity of reoccupying Haiti.
He concludes that the question resolves itself into a choice between two sacrifices. The Haitian Government which believes itself in a better position to know which is the less perilous has decided after careful consideration upon a 25% salary reduction.
A careful consideration of these two lengthy documents and the oral statements leads me to believe that President Vincent is unwilling to renounce to very substantial political and other advantages now derived by his Government from the communes or to risk any possible dissatisfaction in the Guard which might alter the very loyal support he now enjoys. These two factors are essential to insure in the contemplated elections the success of the candidates which he may support. In these circumstances I am not sure that he would accept the compromise suggested in my telegram 172, October 7, 7 p.m., although he could not advance constitutional objectives inasmuch as he has already imposed a 10% assessment.
Rush urgent telegraphic instructions are requested as to the position I have taken with the Fiscal Representative as set forth in the penultimate paragraph of my telegram No. 171, October 7, 6 p.m., as well as to whether or not he should interpose any objection to the bank’s discounting up to 50% of the salaries.
- Col. Demosthenes Petrus Calixte, Commandant of the Haitian Guard, was dismissed by the President of Haiti in January, 1938, for alleged political activity.↩