838.42/16
The Minister in Haiti (Bailly-Blanchard) to the Secretary of
State
Port au
Prince, April 12,
1921.
[Received April 23.]
No. 481
Sir: Referring to the Department’s no. 350 of
September 29, 192011 regarding
the cooperation of the Government of the United States with that of
Haiti in promoting education in Haiti, I have the honor to report that
the matter was brought to the President’s attention on December 21,
1920, when I explained it in detail to His Excellency, impressing upon
him its urgency.
The President expressed his satisfaction at the receipt of the
communication, that he would lay the matter at once before the Cabinet,
and that he hoped that he would live long enough to see the consummation
of the reforms and improvements outlined.
I left with the President the Memorandum which I had translated to him,
embodying the contents of the Department’s instruction above
mentioned.
I have the honor to enclose herewith copy and translation of the
Memorandum dated March 7, 1921, received in reply to my memorandum
handed to the President, to which is annexed a letter dated March 1st
1921 from the Minister of Public Education to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs,12 which
explains itself.
The memorandum of March 7, was handed me by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in person, which I read in his presence. I expressed to him the
regret that the reply was contrary to what I was lead [led] to hope for by His Excellency The President.
In my opinion the Haitian Laws on Education are not wanting, but what is
lacking is their being put into execution.
Mr. Doret is no longer Minister of Public Education, having resigned a
few days subsequent to the date of his letter to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs. It is understood that Mr. Fernand Hibbert, ex-Chargé-d’affaires
at Cuba, now on leave in France, is to be placed in charge of this
portfolio upon his return here. It appears to me that this subject could
be reopened after his installation, to the end that a technical adviser
on educational matters be appointed in accordance with the method of
appointment of the Treaty Officials, he to have surveillance and
direction of Public Education. This, of course, would necessitate an
amendment to the Treaty.
I have [etc.]
[Page 197]
[Enclosure—Translation13]
The Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs
(Barau)
to the American Minister (Bailly-Blanchard)
Memorandum
In reply to the memorandum handed on the 21st of December, 1920, by
His Excellency the Minister of the United States of America to the
President of the Republic, to make known, in accordance with the
instructions of the Secretary of State of the United States, the
fact that the Department of State was very much concerned because
the system of public instruction in Haiti has failed to show any
tangible improvement during the period of occupation, and that it is
desirable that the Haitian Government be informed of the sincere
desire of the Government of the United States that reforms be
undertaken at an early date in the present system of public
education, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the name of
the Haitian Government has the honor to reply to the suggestions of
the Department of State in conformity with the observations of the
Department of Public Instruction noted in a letter of which a copy
is annexed to the present note and presented at the same time:
That the Haitian Government does not believe that under the
convention of 1915 the United States has any other obligation in
regard to education than that of lending financial assistance to the
Haitian Government for the development, not the organization, of its
system of public instruction, which is based upon the most modern
French system of public instruction.
That the Haitian Government expresses the desire that the Financial
Adviser shall not persist any longer in refusing his approval of the
increase in the salaries of the members of the teaching corps and
for the acquisition of the material necessary for the schools.
That the Haitian Government affirms that the absence of progress
which the Department of State believes it finds in public
instruction in Haiti is due rather to the lack of funds than to the
lack of laws and of adequate methods, the laws and the methods which
govern Haiti giving abundant results in France, from whom they are
borrowed.
That the Haitian Government believes firmly that with the laws and
the present methods great results may be obtained the day when, as
in Santo Domingo, the budget of public instruction shall be more
important than the others.
[Page 198]
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the name of the Haitian
Government declares that the question of preparation of professors
has been studied in all its aspects and there does not remain for
the moment any new study to be made of it, and that the funds alone
have been lacking up to the present to give it the solution that it
merits.
That in consequence, it is not necessary that a mixed commission be
formed to make new studies on this subject, and that furthermore,
the organization of the National Council of the University dispenses
with the creation of any other similar machinery.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has the mission of
informing His Excellency the Minister of the United States of
America that His Excellency the President of the Republic,
profoundly moved by the desire expressed by the Department of State
to give to the Haitian Government all possible assistance in order
to promote public education in Haiti, regrets not being able to
adhere to the idea of the formation of a mixed commission composed
of three Haitian members and three American members, and so he will
not ask the Government of the United States to propose for
appointment by him the technical adviser in questions of
education.
Port
au Prince, March 7,
1921.
