838.105/383: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti (Munro) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received July 11—1 a.m.]
76. In reply to the Haitianization project submitted in accordance with the Department’s 47, July 3rd, I have received a counterproject containing among others the following proposals:
1. Instead of full sanitary control in Port au Prince and Cape Haitien the Government proposes a sanitary mission of four officers with an appropriation of $28,000 to advise and assist the Haitian Sanitary Service but to have full power in case of emergency. I shall discuss this matter further with the Government.
[Page 498]2. The Government proposes radical restrictions in the powers of the Financial Adviser-Receiver General including the abolition of his right of audit of expenditures. It proposes that he turn over monthly to the Government all funds left after making the payments provided in article 5 of the treaty and that his only power with regard to the budget should be to see that the receipts and expenditures are balanced. It also proposed the immediate appointment of a Haitian co-Director in the Internal Revenue Service. It specifies that the future agreement on the Financial Service shall be on the basis of a complete administration by Haitians of the Customs and Internal Revenue Services.
I shall inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs as I have already done repeatedly that the Government of the United States will insist upon the maintenance intact of the Financial Services and that any changes in the present arrangements must be considered in connection with the negotiations of the new financial agreement.
3. The Government proposes that we should agree to execute later a “protocol of disoccupation” and that meanwhile the brigade commander should withdraw the proclamations establishing martial law and subjecting the Haitian people to trial by provost courts.
I should consider it undesirable to commit ourselves at this time even to an indefinite promise to sign a protocol of disoccupation because we cannot foresee when the marines can be withdrawn and we should retain our freedom of action. The Haitian Government however professes to consider some reference to a subsequent disoccupation agreement necessary for political reasons and it may be advisable to attempt to find a general formula which would satisfy them on this point.
I have thus far seen no indication of any popular feeling here regarding the continued technical state of martial law. Provost courts have not of course been used for a long time. I believe that the demand on this point has been brought forward simply because such a proposal could be utilized effectively for political purposes both here and in the United States and because the Haitian Government knows that it would embarrass us to refuse. While I feel that it would be preferable not to change the existing situation I do not think that the continued existence of martial law is sufficiently important to make it necessary for us to let the Haitian Government use this as an excuse for breaking off the negotiations. I think therefore that we should say that we will consent to the suspension of martial law so long as the country remains tranquil provided that an agreement is reached on all other points. Colonel Little agrees with me in this.
I should like to be informed of the Department’s views on both of the questions discussed in this paragraph.
[Page 499]4. The Government proposes to postpone negotiations regarding the Haitianization of the Garde until a later date giving assurances meanwhile that existing treaty obligations will be respected. I see no objection to this and should in fact prefer to retain a free hand regarding a Haitianization of the Garde for the present.
5. Despite his former proposal on this point the Minister for Foreign Affairs now states that he cannot accept payment of indemnities to civilians in the Public Works Service because of the controversies which we have had regarding these employees. I shall discuss this matter further with him.
6. The Government proposes to link up with a Haitianization agreement the question of abolishing the agreement requesting that prior approval of [?] by the Legation and also the payment of the expense allowances of the Senators and Deputies. I shall discuss this matter further with them.