838.00/2987: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Munro) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:50 p.m.]
64. Department’s telegram No. 40, June 6, 6 p.m. The Financial Adviser this morning received orders from the Minister of Finance to pay the representation allowances to the Senators and Deputies from April 7th on. I have authorized him to reply that he has been instructed by the Government of the United States to make no payments under this credit until further notice.
I have discussed the agreement of 1918 with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on several occasions and he has not attempted to deny its continued validity although pointing out the difficulty of applying it under present conditions. He proposed an arrangement under which the two Governments would rescind the agreement of 1918 on condition that every project of law relating to financial affairs be submitted to the Financial Adviser for his accord before presentation to the Legislature. I have understood that we would discuss the matter further after dealing with the more urgent questions.
I see no objection to an arrangement providing that any project of law directly affecting one of the services under American control must be submitted to the head of the service for his accord before presentation by the Government to the Legislature and I think that such an agreement would be more in accord with our present policy here and easier to endure than the agreement of 1918 which is certain to give rise to bitter feeling and violent controversies if we insist upon its strict observance. Neither an arrangement of this character, however, nor the agreement of 1918 would cover adequately laws introduced by individual Congressmen and not by the Government and it would still be necessary to insist upon our right to regard as inoperative even after promulgation a law which we considered inconsistent with the treaty. I should like to be informed of the Department’s views regarding the proposed modification of the agreement of 1918.