838.516/140: Telegram
The Minister in Haiti ( Bailly-Blanchard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—11:20 p.m.]
42. From McIlhenny:
I urgently and earnestly request that the modifications [sic] proposed in the Department’s cable 55, July 24th, 6 p.m., be not taken. A modification of the position taken in the negotiations with the Haitian Government would be looked upon by that Government as a weakening of the American policy and would destroy the force of the American administration in the island. It is absolutely necessary that the modifications agreed to between the American Government and the bank should be accepted by the Haitian Government. [The Haitian Government] absolutely refuses to put into effect article 15 of the contract of the retrait, to accept article 10 of the modifications of the bank charter agreed to by American Government and City Bank, to enact land law approved by State Department; has offered a law in spite of protest and in violation of the treaty, making the ownership of real property by Haitians [non-Haitians?] practically impossible and a law turning back all sequestrated property to the Germans. Other unsound and improper [Page 825] laws have been passed without submission to Legation.65 The whole attitude of the Haitian Government is so aggressive, antagonistic at this time that any modification of our position would be detrimental to American interest and render impossible a sound administration of Haitian affairs. By reason of the above I have suspended all discussion of the budget.
The above views are fully concurred in by Colonel Russell66 and myself and we are taking the necessary steps to bring about a change of attitude and proper action by the Haitian Government.