Mr. Douglass to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Port-au-Prince, April 27, 1891.
(Received May 15.)
No. 157.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 151, of the 17th
instant, I have the honor to send to you herewith inclosed copies of
correspondence which has since that date been exchanged between myself and
Mr. Firmin, the minister of foreign affairs, and from which it will be seen
that the Haitian minister reiterates his assurance to me that the Executive
will especially recommend in his forthcoming message to the Corps Législatif
the repeal of the law or decree by which our sailing vessels are; detained
in Haitian ports until all the duties on their inward cargoes, are paid.
- Inclosure No. 1 is a copy of my note to Mr. Firmin. The object of it
was to secure from him in writing a confirmation of what he had said to
me verbally.
- Inclosure No. 2 is a translation of his response, which covers all the
ground that I had expected it to cover.
It seems now to be tolerably certain that the law or decree which has borne
so heavily on our sailing vessels coming here during many years past will
shortly be so modified as to remove our just grounds of complaint on that
account.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 157.]
Mr. Douglass to Mr.
Firmin.
Legation of the United States,
Port-au-Prince, April 20,
1891.
No. 45.]
Sir: Referring to the several conversations
which it has been my privilege to have with you in regard to the
detention in Haitian ports of sailing vessels until all the customs
duties on their inward cargoes are paid, I have the honor to state to
you
[Page 656]
that it was with a very
lively satisfaction that I understood you to assure me at our interview
on the 17th instant that your Government has decided, in response to my
several representations on the subject, to make the earnest
recommendation, in the forthcoming message of President Hyppolite to the
Corps Législatif, that the law or decree by which the detention
complained of is enforced, shall be speedily abrogated.
If I have correctly understood you on the important point cited, I shall
hasten to give to my Government full knowledge of your friendly purpose
in this respect.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
157.—Translation.]
Mr. Firmin to Mr.
Douglass.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Port-au-Prince, April 22,
1891.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note of the 20th instant, in which you express your
satisfaction at the assurance that I gave you on the 17th instant to the
effect that the Government has, in consequence of your representations
on the subject, decided to especially recommend to the Corps Législatif,
in the forthcoming message of President Hyppolite, the abrogation of the
decree in virtue of which sailing vessels are detained in Haitian ports
until the customs duties on their cargoes are paid.
It is perfectly understood, and you can count on it, that things will be
done as I have assured you, thus testifying to you the lively desire of
the Government of Haiti to prove its good disposition toward the
Government of the United States, and especially towards your honorable
self.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
A. Firmin,
Secretary of State for Foreign
Relations.
