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"By a vote of 102 to only 7, Congress approved the boundary treaty between Peru and Colombia strengthening the intimate friendship of the two peoples."

I avail myself [etc.]

HERNÁN VELARDE

721.2315/362

The Secretary of State to the Colombian Minister (Olaya)

WASHINGTON, January 3, 1928.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No. 1360 of December 22, 1927, informing me that the boundary treaty between Colombia and Peru signed on March 24, 1922, had been ratified by the Congress of the latter country without amendment.

This Government is very pleased to learn of the ratification of the treaty which is further evidence of the desire of the countries of this hemisphere to settle their differences by pacific means and to live in peace and harmony with one another. It is particularly gratifying to this Government to think that it was enabled through the Proces Verbal signed at Washington, March 4, 1925, to assist the Governments of Colombia, Peru and Brazil to arrive at a solution of their boundary difficulties which is satisfactory to all three countries and it is earnestly hoped that the remaining provision of the Proces Verbal may shortly be implemented by the Governments of Colombia and Brazil in order that all boundary questions between them may be definitely settled. Accept [etc.] FRANK B. KELLOGG

721.2315/363

The Secretary of State to the Peruvian Ambassador (Velarde) WASHINGTON, January 11, 1928.

EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note of December 22 last, informing me of the ratification by the Peruvian Government of the Boundary Treaty between Colombia and Perú.

The Government of the United States is very pleased to learn of this action, regarding it as further evidence of the desire of the countries of this hemisphere to settle their differences by pacific means and to live in peace and harmony with one another. It is particularly gratifying to this Government to think that it was enabled, through the Proces Verbal signed at Washington on March 4, 1925, to assist the Governments of Brazil, Colombia and Perú in arriving at a solution of their boundary difficulties which is satisfactory to all three countries.

Accept [etc.]

FRANK B. KELLOGG

738.3915/306a: Telegram

Dominican Republic and Haiti

25

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Haiti (Gross)

WASHINGTON, July 30, 1927-1 p.m.

86

54. As it is probable that the boundary question will be discussed during the visit of President Vasquez 8 you should familiarize yourself with it. Follow developments closely and keep the Department informed.

KELLOGG

738.3915/309

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

No. 574

SANTO DOMINGO, August 9, 1927.
[Received August 16.]

SIR: Having taken occasion this morning to pay my respects to the Haitian Minister, Mr. Dejean, who returned last evening from Port-au-Prince, I have the honor to report that in a conversation which ensued Mr. Dejean expressed himself as quite optimistic over the prospects of a prompt solution of the Haitian-Dominican boundary question.

According to Mr. Dejean, the conversations between President Borno and President Vasquez, as well as between high officials of the respective governments, were very frank and friendly, and it is his belief that for the first time there is the proper disposition on the part of the Dominican Government to effect a solution of this long-standing question. Negotiations will proceed on the basis of the so-called American line, which is the status of present occupation and with a recognition that mutual accommodation will be necessary. The spirit of the Treaty of 1874 87 will be invoked.

It is the hope of the Haitian Minister that an agreement will have been reached before the time of the visit of President Borno to this country. He considers it very desirable that the agreement be reached wholly by direct negotiations and the expression of this thought on his part enabled me again to express the interest which the Department has in a friendly solution of the question, and its hope that solution can be achieved through direct negotiations between the two parties. Mr. Dejean stated that in the possible event of arbitration being necessary, appeal would naturally be made to

Continued from Foreign Relations, 1926, vol. 1, pp. 543-547.

**Horacio Vasquez, President of the Dominican Republic, visited Haiti in August 1927.

Jacques Nicolas Léger, Recueil des Traités et Conventions de la République d'Haïti (Port-au-Prince, 1891), p. 119.

the American Government, but also frankly observed that he thought the reception of the agreement by certain elements of the Dominican public would be more favorable if American arbitration proved to be unnecessary. He emphasized the value, however, of an occasional expression of interest by the Department of State in an adjustment of this question, and stated that it is his belief that previous expressions of that nature to the Dominican Government had been of considerable assistance in promoting a disposition on their part to find a solution.

Mr. Dejean will undertake the negotiations with the Dominican Government, and the Legation will be informed of the progress made. I have [etc.] FRANKLIN B. FROST

738.3915/311

The Chargé in Haiti (Gross) to the Secretary of State

No. 1057 (The High
Commissioner's Series)

PORT AU PRINCE, August 10, 1927. [Received August 24.] SIR: I have the honor to refer to the Department's cable No. 54 of July 30, 1 p. m., and the Legation's telegram No. 89 of August 2, 8 a. m., regarding the Haitian-Dominican boundary question.

The question of the Haitian-Dominican frontier was brought up as a subject for discussion between Presidents Borno and Vasquez, during the latter's recent visit to this Capital. The conversations were friendly and indicative of a mutual desire to arrive at a solution both logical and practical. The two presidents agreed, in principle, to adopt permanently the status quo without indemnity of any kind. No definite action was taken, however.

One or two minor problems remain to be worked out. One of these is the question of frontier formalities on the trails between the Dominican towns of Banica and Restauracion. These towns are about forty miles apart by the trail usually used by the Dominicans, who find it easier to take this road which crosses a corner of Haitian territory, rather than the road which follows Dominican territory throughout. The journey over this road is approximately five miles shorter than the distance by the road which follows the Artibonite River from Banica as far as La Cruz de Cabrera. The river road is on the Dominican side of the river most of the way. The distance saved is small. On the other hand, the risk of the irritating application of rigid frontier regulations, and the risk of the abuse of the frontier regulations, if they are made lenient, is great.

There is a similar rumored frontier problem further south in the vicinity of the town of Pedernales.

"Latter not printed.

President Borno has told me that while nothing of a definite nature was decided upon, it was the opinion of the two presidents that the question of trails could be solved without difficulty and that if necessary an equivalence of land could be exchanged in order that principal trails would not cross the other's territory. One parcel of territory which would doubtless enter into such a trade, would be that around the eastern extremity of Etang (Lake) Sumatre. It is President Borno's desire that the frontier should pass between these two lakes so that each country should have a trail around its own lake, without crossing the other's territory.

These adjustments appear to be desirable and satisfactory but it is possible that any talk of exchange of territory will open up a phase of the question which might delay indefinitely a solution to the whole boundary question.

I have [etc.]

C. GROSS

738.3915/314

The Minister in the Dominican Republic (Young) to the Secretary

No. 639

of State

SANTO DOMINGO, September 28, 1927. [Received October 11.] SIR: I have the honor to submit the following confidential report covering recent developments respecting the Dominican-Haitian boundary question.

During the recent visit of President Vasquez to Port-au-Prince it was suggested by President Borno that a brief convention be signed which should declare (1) that all controversies and questions now existing between the two Governments or which thereafter might arise should be settled if possible through direct and friendly negotiations, and (2) should such direct negotiations prove unsuccessful the good offices of a friendly third power, if proferred, must be accepted.

The Convention was not signed, President Vasquez asserting that the death of the wife of Señor Ricart, Dominican Secretary of State for Health and Welfare, impelled him to return at once to Santo Domingo and that he would later accord careful consideration to the matter. Shortly after his return, President Vasquez called at the Haitian Legation to express to the Minister his appreciation of the many courtesies extended to himself and his party during their stay on Haitian territory, and stated that in the near future he would cause to be sent to the Haitian Minister an important communication. When three weeks had passed without any further development, the Haitian Minister addressed a personal and confidential communication to Minister for Foreign Affairs Sanchez in which reference was

made to the President's visit to the Legation and his statement regarding the formulation at an early date of an important communication. The Haitian Minister pointed out in his note that he had not as yet received any communication of the nature mentioned by President Vasquez and stated that he would be most happy to receive at an early date, for transmission to his Government, any communication which the Dominican Government might see fit to address to him in the light of the mutual desire of both Governments to effect a friendly settlement of any and all questions pending between the two countries. After some delay Minister Dejean received a note in reply from the Minister of Foreign Affairs saying in substance that the Dominican Government was continuing to accord to the questions its most sympathetic consideration but that for the moment he was unable to amplify that statement.

The Haitian Minister, doubtless reflecting the attitude of his Government, feels that since Haiti proposed the conclusion of a convention of the nature mentioned above as preparatory to a serious consideration and discussion of the boundary question the next move ought properly and appropriately to come from the Dominicans.

In conversation with me last week at his summer home at Las Matas, where in response to his invitation I spent two days, the President told me confidentially that he had recently received a report from Port-au-Prince to the effect that certain differences had arisen between the American High Commissioner and President Borno respecting "certain amendments to the Haitian Constitution," and that he felt somewhat apprehensive lest the situation might impair President Borno's energy in dealing with the frontier question. The President stated that he realized fully that an adjustment of the boundary question could only be had if President Borno was in a position to count upon the full support and cooperation of General Russell. He added that he was causing a discreet investigation to be made, and that if his previous information should be confirmed he intended to send a personal message to President Borno counseling him in view of the great importance of the boundary matter to make every effort to procure the full cooperation of the High Commissioner and not permit any other question to impair the fullest cooperation. I stated merely that I had not received any information which would tend in any way to confirm his report. President Vasquez then went on at some length, and in a very earnest and sincere manner, to impress upon me his desire for an early settlement of the question. He said that he regarded the present time as a very opportune one and that if no agreement was reached it would not be because of any lack of desire or earnest effort on the part of the Dominican Government.

See vol. I, pp. 48 ff.

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