Mr. Léger to Mr. Hay.
Washington, May 7, 1904.
Mr. Secretary of State: In the course of the interview you did me the honor to grant me on the 5th instant, I took the liberty of drawing your attention to the controversies arising from the treaty concluded in 1864 between Haiti and the United States, as well as to the insufficiency of that diplomatic instrument respecting the extradition of fugitive criminals and the status of our respective consuls. I availed myself of the opportunity to inform you that my Government, desirous, above all, of making the excellent relations now existing between our two countries even closer, would be glad to substitute for the treaty of 1864 conventions that would make further misunderstandings impossible.
In reply to this communication you graciously authorized me to submit to you drafts that could serve as a basis for negotiations. You will therefore find herewtih a draft of a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, and a draft of a convention for the extradition of fugitive criminals.a The treaty of 1864 will thus cease to be binding at the expiration of one year, or sooner if the negotiations should, as I hope they will, be brought to a conclusion before then.
With my anticipated thanks for the benevolent cooperation you may be so good as to extend to me in the matter, I beg you to accept, etc.,
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