Mr. Hay to Mr. Powell.
Washington, December 1, 1899.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 661, of the 16th ultimo, with which you communicate, in compliance with the Department’s instructions, further information as to the status of the persons, landholders in Haiti, who claim United States citizenship and exemption from Haitian military service.
As the immigration of the persons in question and the acceptance by them of a land grant from the Haitian Government appears to have been expressly conditioned upon their becoming citizens of Haiti, the transaction must be regarded as a voluntary contract whereby the immigrant settler renounced his American citizenship and became merged in the body politic of the Haitian Republic.
You will test each individual case by this rule and act accordingly, withholding the passport if the fact of the acquisition of Haitian citizenship appear.
I am, etc.,