348. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Secretary of State 1

SUBJECT

  • Recognition of New Government of Haiti

Background:

In a note dated February 8, 1957, the Foreign Office of Haiti informed our Embassy in Port-au-Prince that on February 7 the National Assembly elected Franck Sylvain as Provisional President to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Provisional President Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis.2

A widely held interpretation of the constitutional presidential succession (Article 81) was that in case of a vacancy the executive power was automatically vested in the senior judge of the Court of Cassation. Although the action by the National Assembly was not in accordance with constitutional procedures, which are difficult to apply in view of the political crisis through which Haiti is passing after the overthrow of President Paul Magloire last December, the election of Mr. Sylvain was carried out in a peaceful manner and the results were tacitly accepted by the leading political figures.

Mr. Sylvain has formed a cabinet in which there are no known Communist sympathizers. The new government is believed to be generally friendly to the United States, and it has indicated that it will respect its international obligations. Furthermore, it appears able to maintain internal order and it enjoys the acquiescense of the majority of the people.

In electing Mr. Sylvain the National Assembly gave him a mandate to hold free elections as soon as possible in order that a constitutional president may be inaugurated on May 15, 1957.

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Recommendation:

That you sign the attached memorandum to the President, and authorize us to extend recognition not later than Wednesday, February 20, 1957.3

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 738.02/2–1557. Confidential.
  2. President Pierre-Louis resigned on February 4. Documentation on this subject is ibid., 738.00.
  3. Not printed. After receiving the approval of Secretary Dulles and the President, the note extending recognition to the Sylvain government was delivered to the Foreign Ministry by Ambassador Davis on February 21.