</s>104-10164-10110 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 DEPT OF STATE ATIRGRAM A-406 FROM AMEMBASSY, FORT-AU-PRINCE DATE: 1 APRIL 1963 CLASSIFICATION: OFFICIAL USE ONLY: SUBJECT: U.S. BUSINESSNAM: SIGNS CONTACTS WITH HATTAN GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL DANK

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. diplomatic and intelligence records concerning Joseph D. Charles, a Haitian businessman and political figure active in the early 1960s. Charles served as President and General Manager of the Commercial Bank of Haiti (Banque Commerciale d'Haiti) and held diplomatic roles, including U.S. Ambassador to Haiti from 1946 to 1960. U.S. officials characterized him as a "promoter" with ties to political figures and influence over Haitian banking, noting his financial dealings involved loans secured by political guarantees. His business ventures included partnerships with British and German companies, and he was linked to Haitian officials such as Adolphin Telson (Minister of Defense) and Colonel Marcassonne Prosper (former Chief of Police). The documents highlight U.S. interest in monitoring Charles's activities during the 1960s due to his potential political influence. Fragmented records from 1963–1965 also reference Clement Joseph Charles, Clovis Designor, Luckner Cambronne, and other Haitian officials, detailing U.S. intelligence monitoring of post-Duvalier political dynamics, administrative processes like visa applications, and classified operational codes. A section mentions "EVOUNT-1" and "DIVIALER LEAKING FALSE INFO," suggesting internal communications about disinformation efforts. Other records include financial statements for Banque Commerciale d'Haiti (1963), international business partnerships with entities like the American Trust Company, and FBI/DOJ administrative files on Haitian nationals such as CHARLES CLEWARD. The text contains redacted sections, placeholders for social security numbers (e.g., [SSN REDACTED]), and fragmented entries about economic planning in Haiti, including infrastructure projects and agricultural initiatives. No direct references to John F. Kennedy or the assassination investigation are present in the summaries.  

Key People  
- Joseph D. Charles: Haitian businessman, President of Banque Commerciale d'Haiti, former U.S. Ambassador to Haiti (1946–1960).  
- Adolphin Telson: Minister of Defense and Justice, brother-in-law of Madame Charles.  
- Colonel Marcassonne Prosper: Former Chief of Police under President Magloire, married to Madame Charles’s sister.  
- Clement Joseph Charles: Businessman associated with Haitian banking and political figures.  
- Clovis Designor: Minister of Finance (Haiti).  
- Luckner Cambronne: Minister of Public Works (Haiti).  
- Franz Leroi: Agriculture minister's private secretary (Haiti).  
- Jacques Larocque: Assistant chief of staff (Haiti).  
- CHARLES CLEWARD: Haitian national processed by U.S. Department of Justice.  
- William Stix Wasserman: Mentioned in a letter to Senator John F. Humphrey (possibly misattributed to JFK).  

Key Locations  
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Political and business hub for Charles’s activities.  
- London, England: Site of international business dealings.  
- New York, U.S.: Context of diaspora and financial partnerships.  
- Washington, D.C.: U.S. government offices and agencies (CIA, FBI, DOJ).  
- unspecified international locations (e.g., "PR 26," "KARLING AND FLOCH").  

Key Events  
- 1946–1960: Charles served as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.  
- March 1963: U.S. officials reported on the Commercial Bank of Haiti’s financial instability, citing reliance on politically guaranteed assets.  
- February 1963: Department of State report detailed Charles’s diplomatic and business history.  
- 1963–1965: U.S. intelligence monitored Haitian political figures and power struggles post-Duvalier.  
- April 1966: FBI records referenced Charles’s activities in Haiti.  
- Administrative processes related to visa applications, immigration records, and travel control for Haitian nationals.  

Key Organizations  
- Commercial Bank of Haiti (Banque Commerciale d'Haiti): Central to Charles’s business activities.  
- U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince: Monitored Charles’s financial and political connections.  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Released declassified documents on Charles’s international ventures.  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Handled records on Haitian nationals like CHARLES CLEWARD.  
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ): Managed immigration and naturalization processes.  
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navy SEALs: Mentioned in intelligence contexts.  
- American Trust Company, Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Pan American Bank of Miami: International financial partners of Charles.  
- National Distributors’ Association of the Cotton Industry: Linked to Haitian economic initiatives.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10164-10110.pdf

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