Mr. Powell to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Santo Domingo
City, February 8,
1904.
No. “Q.”]
Sir: I have the honor to submit to the
Department a copy of a dispatch forwarded to the minister of foreign
relations, Hon. M. Férère, in regard to the subject of license taxes, in
accordance with instructions from the Department.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. Férère.
Legation of the United States,
Santo Domingo City, February 2, 1904.
Sir: I had the honor to address your
excellency by instructions from my Government, in regard to the
question of patents or license tax. I have expected to have received
a reply to my note, but up to the present moment I have received
none.
I have now to inform your excellency that the question of license
taxes or tax contributions, of whatever nature, in violation of
article 5 of the treaty between the United States and Haiti, must be
considered as settled. My Government will not admit any further
discussion on this subject. It denies to your excellency’s
Government the right to levy such tax.
[Page 384]
I call your excellency’s attention to the carefully rendered decision
of the Hon. W. R. Day, in the Metzger case. It was therein admitted
by the Haitian Government the provisions of that treaty to be
correct.
My Government expects the provisions of that treaty to be faithfully
observed toward its citizens.
I am also instructed to inform your excellency that my Government can
no longer engage in the discussion of this question which has been
so well and finally settled.
Accept, etc.,
