814.00/575: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) WASHINGTON, December 8, 1921-5 p.m. 51. Informally and unofficially indicate to the members of the new Government the painful impression which would be caused in the United States by any political executions, and the expectation of this Government that Mr. Herrera and his cabinet, in particular, will receive humane treatment. HUGHES 814.00/578: Telegram The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State GUATEMALA, December 9, 1921—4 p.m. [Received December 10-11 a.m.] 50. Department's 51, December 8, 5 p.m. Have carried out instructions. Members of the new administration have pledged humane treatment to Herrera and Cabinet, and intimate that there will be no political executions but latter not pledged. Old Congress elected General Orellana, Provisional President and Mencos, First Designado. MCMILLIN 814.00/578: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) WASHINGTON, December 12, 1921-5 p.m. 52. Your 50, December 9, 4 p.m. Renewed uneasiness has been expressed as to the safety of certain members of the former cabinet, now held as prisoners. You will make clear informally to the Provisional Government the heavy responsibility which rests upon it for the safety and humane treatment of these prisoners. HUGHES 814.00/588: Telegram The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State GUATEMALA, December 16, 1921—5 p.m. [Received 11:30 p.m.] 54. Minister of Foreign Affairs and First and Second Designados and certain other prisoners released. Escamilla only member of Cabinet held in prison. Situation improving. MCMILLIN 814.00/595: Telegram The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State [Extract] GUATEMALA, December 26, 1921-3 p.m. [Received December 28-9:30 a.m.] 60. I find no disposition among the members diplomatic corps here to recognize provisional government. Most of them oppose it. General sentiment inclines to abide final action of the United States. Under instructions of his Government the Nicaraguan Chargé d'Affaires ignored the provisional government when sending notices to the Legations of raising the flag in commemoration of Nicaraguan independence. Costa Rica instructed her Legation against all action savoring of recognition. Mendrano and Montufar were slated for Washington as representatives of the provisional government but departure delayed. Escamilla minister in Herrera Cabinet recently released from prison has applied to Government for passport alleging he was out of political affairs. Quiet prevails. MCMILLIN 814.00/594: Telegram The Chargé in Guatemala (Curtis) to the Secretary of State [Extract-Paraphrase] GUATEMALA, December 27, 1921—11 a.m. [Received December 28-12:10 a.m.] 61. Unquestionably the present Government, headed by former officers of Estrada Cabrera, is a purely military one. Orellana, nevertheless, seems to be a man of high character. . . . I suggest for the Department's consideration, that the United States offer to grant recognition provided it receives in advance satisfactory assurances that (1) all members of the Assembly and late Government be granted complete political amnesty including immunity from criminal prosecution; (2) the Army be converted into police and reduced to not more than 10,000 men; (3) all artillery be destroyed and the forts about the city be dismantled; and (4) Guatemala engage an American financial agent, who shall have wide powers. The Army varies greatly in strength. It now fluctuates between twenty and thirty thousand men. The government would be greatly benefited by the disfranchisement of the illiterate. However, there are many objections to demanding this. CURTIS FEDERATION OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLICS (See volume I, pages 143 ff.) DENUNCIATION OF THE TRADE-MARKS CONVENTION OF AUGUST 20, 1910 (See volume I, pages 164 ff.) BOUNDARY DISPUTE WITH HONDURAS (See volume I, pages 231 ff.) HAITI DISCORD OVER THE EXECUTION OF THE TREATY OF 838.42/11a The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Bailly-Blanchard) No. 350 WASHINGTON, September 29, 1920. SIR: The Department has been much concerned by the failure of the system of public instruction in Haiti to show any tangible improvement during the period of occupation. While the Treaty of September 16, 1915, does not specifically provide for the cooperation of this Government with that of Haiti in promoting education, it is evident that the obligation of the United States under the Treaty to assist in the carrying out of plans for the prosperity of the Haitian Republic comprises the duty of aiding the Haitian Government in every proper way to establish the system of public instruction on a sound foundation and to make reforms and improvements in the present method of education. One of the most creditable achievements of the American occupation of Santo Domingo has unquestionably been the reform of public instruction, and it is not thought that this Government will have fulfilled its obligations to Haiti if, as a result of the American intervention, far reaching reforms in education are not carried out. It appears, therefore, to be highly desirable that the Haitian Government be acquainted with the earnest desire of this Government that reforms be undertaken at an early date in the existing system of public education and that provision be made in the yearly appropriations for this branch of the Government which will provide, if possible, an increase in the salaries of the teachers and the necessary equipment for the schools. It is believed that the lack of progress in education is due as largely to the lack of funds as to the absence of the necessary laws or to an inadequate system. The Department believes that provision should at once be made for the establishment of adequate normal schools for the training of teachers; for the employment of competent inspectors; and likewise for the employment of a Technical Adviser on educational 'Continued from Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. II, pp. 760-816; for text of treaty, see ibid., 1916, p. 328. matters. The Department has given careful consideration to this question and has reached the conclusion that a detailed and careful study of the situation, by a commission established at Port-auPrince, is required. It is deemed advisable that this commission should be composed of an equal number of Haitians and Americans and should have as one of its members a Technical Adviser to be nominated at the request of the Haitian Government by the Department of State. The Department believes that the mixed. commission might well be composed of three Haitian members as follows: the Minister of Public Instruction, the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, and a member to be nominated directly by the President, preferably a Haitian not directly connected with the Ministry of Public Instruction, but holding some official position in Haiti such as that of justice of the Court of Causation [Cassation?]; three American members: the American Minister, the Technical Adviser, and one of the Treaty officials to be nominated by the American Minister. It is the opinion of the Department that this mixed commission should study the system of education now existing in Haiti in the most thorough manner, in particular along such lines as the Technical Adviser may suggest, in order that a full report with recommendations for improvements may be prepared as the result of its investigation. The commission, and in particular the Technical Adviser, should be granted special powers by the President in order that all necessary information may be obtained without difficulty from the public Departments of the Haitian Government. The commission should also be empowered to send specially appointed delegates throughout the country in order to obtain advice as to conditions in the outlying districts. The commission might well devote its attention also to the most favorable method of obtaining additional sources of revenue to be devoted exclusively to the yearly appropriations for public instruction. Upon the conclusion of these investigations the report and recommendations prepared as a result of the deliberations of the commission should be submitted to the President in order that they may receive his approval, and the report might well be referred by him upon approval to the Ministry for Public Instruction in order that so many of the recommendations contained in the report as possible may be included in the budget for Public Instruction for the fiscal year following completion of the report. The Department desires that you bring this matter to the immediate attention of the President. It is hoped that the appointment of this commission will be favorably considered by the President and |