339.115 General Motors Export Co./5: Telegram
The Minister in the Dominican Republic (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:35 p.m.]
22. Department’s cable 8, April 16. Todd arrived yesterday but has not decided whether he wishes to ask the Legation to interpose informal good offices in effort to arrange opportunity for him to see Barletta. His hesitation is apparently due to enactment yesterday by Dominican Congress of a law providing for official control through judicial administrator over property of persons against whom proceedings are pending for alleged offenses against security of the state. [Page 480] Law provides that such property shall be liable for indemnity to the state and cannot be transferred by owner without the consent of judicial authorities. This law seems to be peculiarly applicable to Barletta case. Article 42 of the Dominican Constitution provides that laws shall not have retroactive effect and law mentioned may therefore be held unconstitutional if the point is ever raised.