Mr. Gresham to Mr. Smythe.
Washington, November 16, 1893.
Sir: I have received your No. 2 of the 2d instant in regard to the practice of the Haitian authorities in detaining sailing vessels in their ports until the duties on their inward cargoes are paid.
Following the general tenor of Department’s instruction No. 2, you may assume the utterances of the President of Haiti, in his message of 1891, to be authoritative and conclusive, and start from that point in your discussion.
Until the question of the legality and equity of the practice has been thus presented, it is not deemed necessary to consider the alternative suggestions advanced by Mr. Durham in his No. 228.
I am, etc.,