839.00/11–2845: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Dominican Republic (Scherer)

351. Urtel 455, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. As suggested by you please address identical letters to the sugar companies concerned setting forth in the strongest terms Depts position that any American businessman or company engaging in political activities (including the making of [Page 991] campaign contributions whether in the firm’s name or by an American citizen as an individual) need expect no assistance from the Dept or from our diplomatic missions abroad. You should make clear that in the opinion of this government assistance of the type requested of the companies by Trujillo constitutes such participation. You should refer in your letters to the restatement of this policy by Assistant Secretary Braden in his speech before the National Foreign Trade Convention at New York on November 14, a copy of which has been sent you.31

Byrnes
  1. For text of speech, see Department of State Bulletin, November 18, 1945, p. 798.