Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 409.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
Port-au-Prince, July 24, 1880. (Received August 14.)

No. 297.]

Sir: Upon the receipt of your dispatch No. 114, dated June 22 iast as instructed therein, I put myself in communication with my colleague, the representative of the British Government, as regards the imposition of light dues, especially as discrimination is made, in that behalf, by the Haytian Government against foreign vessels.

After learning that the representative referred to, the Hon. Robert Stuart, had already presented the views of his government on this subject, asking the equal treatment of vessels of all flags, I addressed to the Haytian Government a note, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, as expressive of the views of my government with regard to the discrimination made as between national and foreign vessels, and the propriety of modifying the provisions of the law with respect thereto, so as to put both classes of vessels upon the same impartial footing.

This subject shall receive full attention from this legation, and the Department shall be fully advised as to the final result.

Already much opposition has been developed against the enforcement of the regulations concerning these light dues, especially as the contractors, the Messrs. Haenuens, who, according to the terms of the concession made them by the government, collect all charges in the premises, seek to enforce payment not according to registered, but gross tonnage of vessels, steam and sailing.

I am advised that the steamships of the Royal Mail Steamship Company touching here twice per month, carrying mail and passengers only, have been already placed upon the footing of Avar vessels, no charge being made against them. This is done, because otherwise they would pass the port entirely, and the mails carried by them from Europe would not be left here.

I am, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON.

[Inclosure in No. 297.]

Mr. Langston to Mr. Archin.

Legation of the United States,
Port-au-Prince, Hayti, July 14, 1880.

No. 107.]

Sir: After presenting to you the thanks of this legation for the copy of the “Annonce by drographique” which you did it the honor to transmit, under the cover of your uote of the 29th of April last, I have the honor to advise you that it is the judgment of my government that the discrimination which is made between your own and foreign, vessels as to the payment of light dues, the former being charged three and the latter six cents per ton for each voyage, does not accord with the wise considerations of commercial reciprocal obligation which ought always to be recognized and cultivated by the greatly friendly powers of the world.

In observance of the suggestions of such obligation, and in accordance with the principles of enlightened international reciprocity which secure to all nations adopting them permanent advantage, I have the honor now to ask that the provisions in the premises be so modified as to put all American vessels, as far as the administration of the dues referred to is concerned, upon the same footing with your own vessels, and that such service be administered in such regard with impartiality.

Be pleased to accept, &c.,

JOHN MERCER LANGSTON.