I also inclose copy of my reply.
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Férère to
Mr. Powell.
Department of State for Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, August 31, 1904.
Mr. Minister: I thought it my duty
recently, on the occasion of a step undertaken by your legation in
favor of a Syrian residing in Haiti, to place you on your guard
against certain individuals who might attempt to deceive your good
faith by pretending to have acquired through naturalization the
right to have recourse to your intervention and of claiming your
assistance.
I would take good care against insisting more than reasonably on such
a question, the more so as I am firmly convinced that you have not
failed to take the most minute precautions to avoid mistakes, if an
unexpected incident, of which doubtlessly you are already informed,
had not come, recalling that fact and thus showing that the amicable
observations that I had previously submitted were not entirely
inopportune and that they deserved your attention. It has in fact
come to me from an authorized source that the Department of State at
Washington has in the few days past seized the occasion to give to
our country a new proof of its good will and a testimony of its
sympathy, for which we are particularly grateful. This is the
subject: A Syrian, Habib J. Aflak, styling himself a merchant
established in Haiti, applied to the American authorities lately for
a passport. Suspecting that the certificate of naturalization
produced by Aflak in support of his request might have been
illegally obtained, the Department of State refused the passport. An
inquiry was quietly begun, from which resulted, on the 16th of the
present month, the arrest of Aflak on board of the Dutch steamer Prins Wilhelm II at the very moment that he
was leaving New York for Port au Prince. “This arrest,” adds Mr.
Leger, our informer, “led to the discovery of an organized band that
for pay procured false certificates of naturalization for Syrians
going to Haiti.”
While this affair is being judged, it may appear to you perhaps, as
to me, that the moment has come to examine the situation of those
Levantines who, residing on our territory, pretend to be citizens of
the United States. Also, being aware that, besides the other
requisite conditions necessary, a residence of five years in the
territory of the Union is needed to become a naturalized American, I
am convinced that you will not hesitate, being inspired by your
habitual courtesy and equity, so perfectly in harmony with the
sympathetic disposition of the Department of State, to lend us your
powerful support in order to foil certain guilty maneuvers and to
elucidate a question that interests in so high a degree the
excellent relations so happily established between that Department
and your legation.
And, to that end, I would thank you for furnishing me with a list of
the names of all the Syrians or other Levantines residing in Haiti,
and who pretend to have acquired by naturalization the quality of
citizens of the United States of America.
With my anticipated thanks I renew, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. Férère.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, September 2,
1904.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s favor, in which you call my attention
to the naturalization of a certain class of persons who claim to be
American citizens.
I have the honor to state to your excellency that this legation has
been for some time engaged on this matter, and that it is awaiting
further instructions from the honorable Secretary of State, Hon.
John Hay, in regard to it.
Accept, etc.,
