File No. 838.51/520
The Secretary of State to Chargé Scholle
Washington, August 10, 1916.
Sir: There is herewith enclosed a copy and translation of a note from the Minister of Haiti near this Government, dated June 26, 1916,6 in reply to the Department’s note informing him of the appointment of the General Receiver and Deputy General Receiver of Haitian customs.
Your attention is called to that portion of the note referring to the alleged delay in the establishment of reforms in Haiti, and in the extension of financial aid by this Government.
[Page 360]Reference to the files of your Mission and to recent correspondence, especially to Department’s telegram of April 8, 1916, 6 p.m., will show that the delay on the part of the Government of Haiti in transmitting, for exchange at Washington, the instruments of ratification of the convention, and the further postponement due to the desire of that Government to limit the interpretation of the instrument by reference to the interpretative commentary of the Chamber of Deputies, necessarily deferred the exchange of such ratifications until May 3, 1916.
It also appears superfluous to observe that the officials contemplated by the treaty could not be appointed, nor their names submitted to the President of the United States for his consideration, prior to the final effectuation of this instrument.
The reasons for the delay attendant upon the final conclusion of the Gendarmerie Agreement and of the differences existing between the National Railway of Haiti and the Government of that Republic are familiar to you. You will discreetly and opportunely convey the substance of this confidential despatch to His Excellency the President of Haiti, and in an endeavor to ascertain whether it is a faithful interpretation of the position of his Government, reiterate the desire of this Government that further unnecessary delay may not characterize the conduct of subsequent negotiations.
I am [etc.]