Mr. Adee to Mr.
Battiste.
Department of State,
Washington, September 17,
1900.
No. 432.]
Sir: I inclose copy of a letter from the Acting
Secretary of the Treasury requesting that you will ascertain from the
Haitian Government whether, in view of the new Franco-Haitian commercial
treaty, it is their intention to impose higher or other tonnage dues
upon American vessels carrying merchandise of French origin to Haiti
than upon French vessels carrying the same.
You will invite their attention in this connection to article 10 of the
treaty of November 3, 1864, between the United States and Haiti y
guaranteeing the most-favored-nation treatment to American shipping.
I am, etc.,
Alvey A. Adee,
Acting Secretary.
[Page 277]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Spaulding
to Mr. Hay.
Treasury Department,
Office of the
Secretary,
Washington, September 12,
1900.
Sir: I have the honor to invite your
attention to the Franco-Haitian commercial treaty published in No.
831, Advance Sheets Consular Reports, September 12, 1900. The second
article of that treaty contains the following:
“The same reduction of the surtaxes of 50 per cent and 33⅓ percent
shall be accorded in that which concerns the tonnage dues paid by
French sailing vessels and on the merchandise debarked from French
steamers, on condition that the said merchandise be of French
origin. This origin shall be verified, etc.”
I have the honor to request that our minister to Haiti be instructed,
if you perceive no objection thereto, to bring this article of the
treaty to the attention of the Haitian Government, together with
article 10 of the treaty of November 3, 1864, between the United
States and Haiti, by which it is provided that no higher or other
duties upon tonnage or cargo of vessels of the United States shall
be levied or collected than shall be levied or collected on vessels
of the most favored nation.
This Department desires to ascertain whether it is the purpose of the
Haitian Government to impose higher or other tonnage dues upon
American vessels carrying merchandise of French origin to Haiti than
upon French vessels carrying the same.
Respectfully,
O. L. Spaulding, Acting Secretary.
