838.24/5–1347
The Ambassador in Haiti (Tittmann) to the Secretary of State
No. 464
Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegram No. 110 of May 1, 1947,19 stating that the Department would consider sympathetically a Haitian request to purchase from surplus small amounts of arms and equipment to meet an urgent and immediate need, I have the honor to report that the content of this telegram was conveyed by me personally to President Estimé on May 3, 1947. The President expressed satisfaction, and it is understood that shortly thereafter he forwarded to the Haitian Embassy in Washington for presentation to the Department a list of arms and ammunition desired by the Army of Haiti (since the Law of March 29, 1947, no longer known as the Garde d’Haiti) which was furnished by General Lavaud, Chief of Staff of the Haitian Army.
There is enclosed a copy of a report dated May 9, 1947,19 from the Military Attaché of this Embassy to the War Department which I believe is of sufficient importance to be called especially to the Department’s attention. Therein is found what amounts to a declaration of Haitian Military policy by the Chief of Staff of the Haitian Army. [Page 727] In broad outline this policy is to (1) provide first of all for internal security; (2) have a small army to act as a covering force if Haiti is attacked and to train civilian officer and NCO reserve; (3) have only sufficient equipment for training purposes; (4) not be the aggressor; (5) request assistance from the United States, if attacked; (6) have reserve personnel trained to use United States arms and equipment; (7) obtain now United States arms and equipment for internal security and training purposes.
With regard to paragraph 3 of the Department’s telegram No. 110 of May 1, 1947, which is for my information only, perhaps I should say that the Haitians have been aware for some time of the possibility of some sort of an interim program for Haiti,20 although it may be assumed that the present status of the matter as set forth in the telegram is not known to them.
Respectfully yours,