838.00 Elections/40: Telegram
The High Commissioner in Haiti (Russell) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 3:52 p.m.]
60. Reliable information has reached me that the Council of State will not elect Roy on April 14th.…
Borno said that … he had determined to withdraw his support of Roy. I argued with him for over an hour and finally obtained his consent to recommend Roy although he said he would do no more. I requested that he adjourn the Council of State tomorrow, dismiss members opposed to Roy and replace them by Councilors who would vote for him. This he absolutely refused to do.
Late this afternoon I again had a long discussion with President Borno and as a result I am to have a conference tomorrow at 9 a.m. with him, Robinson, Tribie and Beauvoir, the latter Councilors of State. At that conference I shall assure them that Roy has stated that he will not interfere with the regular session of the Council of State. Furthermore that as the Constitution provides the Council of State shall function until the holding of congressional elections and the meeting of the duly elected legislative body, I feel that the Council of State must exist until that time.
I have just had a conference with Georges Leger who states that he is convinced the Council of State is against Roy and that it is prepared to elect Thezan or Nemours in order to throw the country into disorder. I believe this to be the present attitude of the Council of State but hope to change it before Monday.35
- April 14.↩