810.154/2060: Airgram
The Ambassador in Haiti (White) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 21—3 p.m.]
A–277. Your No. 132, June 17, 7:00 p.m.4 re termination of transportation part of overland highway. The principal detriment would be to a few individuals who have spent much time and quite a little money to make the Overland Highway a success. I consider that [Page 101] either they should be reimbursed or that the project should be allowed to run for a sufficient time to enable them to recoup.
There are also a number of chauffeurs (I believe less than 25) who have obtained tires for this project, which they are under contract to return. Whether they would have any claim to indemnification would require study.
The Haitian Government has issued decrees and made provisions and arrangements to facilitate the transportation. Should these remain a dead letter or be rescinded, I suppose no great harm to anyone would accrue.
From the point of view of general prestige the impression would be unfortunate. Possibly if a good and sufficient reason could be announced, such as marked diminution of the submarine menace, this unfortunate impression might be overcome. Care would have to be taken however that such a statement would not lead to clamor for increased tonnage for Haiti, on the theory that this country might be underprivileged as compared with Puerto Rico.
- See footnote 3, above.↩