838.51/4240
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Willard F. Barber of the Division of the American Republics
| Participants: | President-elect Lescot of Haiti; |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Dennis; | |
| Dr. Bressman; | |
| Mr. Fennell; | |
| Mr. Bonsal; | |
| Mr. Finley; | |
| Mr. Collado; | |
| Mr. Barber. |
Incorporating the changes agreed upon as the result of yesterday’s meeting, Mr. Finley presented a new draft 4 of the “Bases for Discussion” which was then briefly discussed and agreed upon.
[Page 341]M. Lescot inquired if the press release had been prepared and Mr. Finley submitted a press statement covering the agreement in principle regarding a revision of the Accord of 1933. MM. Lescot and Dennis agreed that it would be highly desirable to issue the press statement simultaneously in Washington and Port-au-Prince.31 It was decided to make the release available for the morning newspapers of May 6. It was further agreed that the “Bases of Discussion” was not to be released to the public.
A second press statement regarding the extension of credits by the Export-Import Bank and the cooperative plan for agricultural development was also briefly reviewed and agreed upon.
President-elect Lescot then proceeded to the Under Secretary’s office, where the (draft 4) “Bases of Discussion” was initialed.
- For texts of press releases, see Department of State Bulletin, May 10, 1941, pp. 567–568.↩