Evening star., 1931-12-10
Hoover Reports on Foreign Affairs

of Haitian affairs in 1880, and by
its good Offices laid the foundation
for the present popularly elected
government of that republic.
After protracted negotiations an
accord was reached with the Haitian
government on August 5 providing
for the return to Haitian control OF
important government services here
tofore carried on under American
supervision by virtue of general OBJ
legations arising through the pro-
visions of Our treaty WIN Haiti. In
accordance with this agreement the
Haitian government on October
assumed definitely the administra-
tion and control of the department
of public works, the sanitary service
and the technical service of agri-
culture, which includes the indus
trial education system. All American
personnel was withdrawn from these
services. To minimize the possibility
of epidemics, and in order that the
health of the American troops and
officials still stationed in Haiti might
be adequately protected, the accord
provided that an American scientific
mission, consisting of three Ameri-
can naval officers and six Hospital
Corps men, should be charged with
the control of sanitation in the
cities of Port au Prince and Cape
Haitien.
The accord makes appropriate
provision for the continuance of
adequate financial control and as
sistance on the part of our Govern
ment. The liberty of action, both OF
the Government of the United States
and the government of Haiti with
respect to questions of financial ad-
ministration, is, of course, limited.
In this connection it must be borne
in mind that investors have supplied
capital desired by Haiti and that
securities have been issued to them
on the faith and credit of the pro-
visions of that treaty and the Ameri-
can financial control which 1t pro-
Wded during the life of the bonds.
Bolivia and Paraguay.
In 1929 the Government of the
United States, together with the
government of Cuba, Colombia, Mex
leo and Uruguay, formed the Com
mission on Inquiry and Cancellation,
Bolivia-Paraguay, which had the
good fortune of being able to termi-
nate an international incident which
for time threatened to cause war
between the countries involved. The
five neutral governments then offer
ed their good offices to Bolivia and
Paraguay, with view to furthering
a settlement of their difficulties.
This offer was accepted in principle.
I am happy to state that represent
atives of both countries are now
meeting in Washington, with the
hope of concluding pact Of nom
aggression between them.
Arbitration of the Boundary Dispute
Between Guatemala and Honduras.
1t has been the privilege of this
Government to lend its good Offices
on several occasions in the past to
the settlement of boundary disputes
between the American republics.
One of the most recent occasions
upon which the disinterested services
of this Government were requested
was in connection with the settle
ment of the dispute which for almost
a century has been outstanding be-
tween the Republic of Guatemala
and Honduras with respect to their
common boundary. Conferences ex-
tending over period of some
months were held In 1880, In the
Department of State, and eventually
on July Is, 1880, treaty was signed
submitting the question to arbitra-
ton, and there was also signed a
supplementary convention providing
for the delimitation of the boundary
after the arbitral tribunal hands
down its award. Ratifications were
exchanged on October IS, 1881. The
tribunal, which will meet in Wash
ington, will be presided over by the
Chief Justice OF the United States.
who has set December Is, 1881, as
the date for the first meeting.
Mexico.
The period for hearings before the
General and Special Claims Com
missions between this country and
Mexico expired In August, 1881. Pur-
suant to a resolution of the Senate
under date Of February %, 1881,
and under instructions from the De-
partment Of State, the American
Ambassador at Mexico City Is carry
ing on negotiations with the Mexi-
can Government looking to the re-
newal Of the activities of the COM
missions, in order that the claims
OF American citizens still pending
may be heard and adjudicated.
The Governments of the United
States and Mexico have approved in
principle certain engineering plans
submitted by the International
Boundary Commission, United States
and Mexico, for the rectification of
the Rio Grande in the vicinity of
El Paso, Tex, to prevent periodical
floods In that region. Negotiations
are being carried on between the two
Governments in an effort to reach
an agreement by which this import
ant international project may be
undertaken.