838.51/4119½
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Willard F. Barber of the Division of the American Republics
| Participants: | M. Fernand Dennis, Appointed Foreign Minister of Haiti, |
| Mr. Bursley, | |
| Mr. Collado, | |
| Mr. Barber. |
M. Dennis called to discuss the six points contained in his memorandum of July 24, 1940, presented to Mr. Berle at Habana. It may be pointed out that M. Dennis did not seem to be fully aware of recent developments in some aspects of the questions that have been under discussion by the two governments.
The conversation followed along the lines of Mr. Collado’s memorandum of October 11:
- 1.
- The development of agricultural production: Assistance has been given through irrigation projects, feeder roads, and other activities of the J. G. White project. Also, the technical services of Mr. Springett, the coffee expert, and of Mr. Fennell, on loan from the United States Department of Agriculture, have been applied with what is thought to be considerable benefit.
- 2.
- Public Works: The Export-Import Bank has agreed to finance the J. G. White at a rate of $160,000 per month through the fiscal year ending September 30, 1941.
- 3.
- Modification of Trade Agreement: A study is being made of the possibility of increasing the list of Haitian products to be added to the Trade Agreement. M. Dennis was informed that the note from M. Laleau, dated September 21, gave the impression that the Haitian government might be contemplating a termination of the Agreement. M. Dennis agreed that it would be difficult to continue discussions under such a lack of clear understanding of the intentions of the Haitian Government, and intimated that he would like to clear up that point, appearing to take the attitude that there is no intention to terminate the Agreement.
- 4.
- Conversion loan: Mr. Collado explained the difficulties in the financial markets regarding such a loan, as well as the policy of the Export-Import Bank in the use of its funds for such purposes. M. Dennis was shown the Agreement signed at Port-au-Prince on September 27, 1940, providing for a moratorium on the amortization payments on the outstanding debt. It was also explained that the interest rate on the Export Bank’s credit for the J. G. White would be 4% (instead of 5%), such rate applying as from July 1, 1940.
- 5.
- Sugar. The difficult situation regarding sugar quotas was briefly explained to M. Dennis.
- 6.
- Coffee. The efforts of the Department to complete arrangements for a comprehensive coffee plan were described to M. Dennis who has attended a number of the meetings held by the Inter-American Advisory Economic and Financial Committee dealing with this subject. It was stated that the coffee problem was being approached from the point of view of arranging a marketing and financing schedule for all of the coffee countries, and that at the present time Haiti’s difficulties would be considered, but that a decision would have to await the adoption of the comprehensive plan.
Summary: Copies of Executive Agreements and of the Trade Agreement were given to M. Dennis, who apparently did not have the documents. It was repeatedly stated that the Department would be very happy to consider with sympathetic consideration any further comments or suggestions that M. Dennis or the Haitian Government would wish to put forward.