Minister Furniss to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, February 3,
1906.
No. 7.]
Sir: I have to advise you that agreeable to my
dispatch No. 2, of January 6, 1906, I have with success taken up with
the Haitian Government the cases of those Americans of Syrian origin who
had not been granted licenses to do business in Haiti for the year
1906.
I inclose herewith my dispatch under date of January 8, 1906, to
Honorable Ferere and his reply to the same, under date of the 13th of
the same month.
After waiting until January 26 without receiving further reply, I went to
see Secretary Férère, called his attention to the delay, and requested
that inasmuch as the matter was entirely in the hands of the President
that he arrange for me an audience with the President. I was more or
less informed by the secretary that such a course would be useless, as
the fact that the parties had failed to receive their licenses, which
would have been delivered in November had they been granted, showed that
action had been adverse, and that it would not be possible to ascertain
the reason for the refusal. I told him that though, as he said, both the
laws and the customs of Haiti might grant to the President the right to
refuse license without giving reason, yet I felt sure that the President
would realize that courtesy to a friendly nation necessitated that just
reasons for refusal be furnished.
Minister Férère appointed the 24th at 10 a.m. for the hour of audience
with the President.
Arriving at the palace on the 24th, I was met by Secretary Férère, and
the President soon joined us. I discussed the matter with him, stated my
contention that some good reason should be given for refusal of licenses
to Americans of Syrian origin, in view of the fact that not only all the
British Syrians had been granted licenses but many who were still of
Syrian nationality, and finally was informed by him that in view of the
circumstances licenses would be issued to John Stambouly at Cape
Haitien, E. Lahame Frères and Faris Antonn, of Port au Prince.
The President also finally stated that licenses had not been granted to
M. Ajamie and A. Ashcar at Cape Haitien, and Abdo Assali at Aux Cayes,
because he had been informed that they had been naturalized subsequent
to the Haitian law of August 13, 1903, prohibiting the further entrance
of Syrians, but promised that if I could show that they had been
naturalized prior to that date, thus proving that they were not
attempting to evade the said law, he would grant them licenses.
[Page 899]
In the case of Michel Kouri he refused license on the ground of his
complication in a counterfeiting case,a mention of which has
been made in Mr. Powell’s dispatches Nos. 1719 and 1723, of April 9,
1905, and which will be treated of in a subsequent dispatch as soon as
evidence in course of preparation can be procured.
Under date of January 25, 1905, I again addressed Secretary Férère, copy
inclosed, reminding him of the President’s promise, clearing up the
contention in so far as Abdo Assali, of Aux Cayes, and M. Ajamie, of
Cape Haitien, were concerned, and asking that in view of the evidence
submitted that their licenses be granted.
I received under date of January 30, 1906, reply, copy inclosed, from
Secretary Férère, informing me that he was in accord with me and would
communicate the facts to the proper authorities that the licenses might
be issued, and promising like treatment to the remaining ones as soon as
the desired information is furnished.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Furniss to the Secretary of
Foreign Relations.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, January 8,
1906.
Sir: I am informed by American Consul
Livingston at Cape Haitien that on October 2, 1905, M. N. Ajamie and
Antoine M. Ashcar, and on October 6, 1905, John Stambouly, all
American citizens and doing business at that place, deposited in the
branch National Bank of Haiti on the dates named the fee required by
the Haitian laws and sent the certificate of deposit, together with
their applications for licenses, to your colleague, the honorable
secretary of finance and commerce.
I am also informed that Mr. Aldo Assali, of Aux Cayes, complied with
the Haitian law and sent his certificate of deposit, together with
application, on October 3, 1905; that E. Lahame Frères, of Port au
Prince, complied with the requirements on October 17, 1905, and
Faris Antonn complied with the requirements on the 9th of October,
1905.
In view of the fact that Honorable Jerome, His Britannic Majesty’s
representative at this capital, has informed me that your Government
has issued licenses to all British subjects of Syrian origin doing
business in this country, I am loath to believe that any
discrimination is intended toward American citizens, but rather that
there has been some delay in the office of issue of licenses.
I would therefore thank you to call the cases to the attention of
your colleague, the honorable secretary of finance and commerce, and
impress upon him the inconvenience as well as the financial loss
occasioned these Americans by their not having their licenses in
hand. A favorable action, at his earliest convenience, would be much
appreciated by this legation.
In reference to Mr. Assali, of Aux Cayes, I have been shown a
telegram wherein the inspector of customs at Aux Cayes refused on
December 23, 1905, to allow him to withdraw certain goods consigned
to him because of his not having his license for this year, and
thereby causing him both inconvenience and loss. I have to request
that pending the issuing of the proper license to Mr. Assali that
the inspector at Aux Cayes be instructed to release the said
goods.
I take, etc.,
[Page 900]
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Furniss to the Secretary of
Foreign Relations.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, January 12,
1906.
Sir: In my dispatch No. 3, dated January 8,
1906, I failed to mention the name of Mr. Michel Kouri among those
of American citizens desirous of procuring licenses.
I would thank you to call the attention of the honorable secretary of
finance to Mr. Kouri’s case.
Please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Secretary of Foreign
Relations to Minister Furniss.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, January 13, 1906.
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor of
receiving your dispatch No. 3 of the 8th of this month.
Its contents have been the object of my very serious attention, and I
have not failed to make a communication thereof to my
Government.
While waiting to advise you as to what will be the decision relative
to Mr. Abdo Assali, I am now able to inform you relative to the
Americans of Syrian origin who complain that, notwithstanding they
have requested them, they have failed until now to receive their
licenses.
Your excellency, I think, is not unaware that not only our laws but
our customs do not make it an obligation for the chief of state to
grant licenses to all those who make application without examining
the requests and the persons. They may be granted or refused as he
may see fit, and without being forced to explain the motive for his
decision.
Thus there may have been licenses delivered to two English, of Syrian
origin, without creating the obligation to do as much for all
solicitors. The more so as Americans of Syrian origin have been
likewise benefited at the hands of His Excellency the President of
the Republic to such an extent that Dominicans, also of Syrian
origin, have thought themselves justified to request like favor, and
complain of their having been refused.
Your Excellency may therefore be set at ease as to the intention of
the Haitian Government toward the generality of American citizens
residing in Haiti.
If licenses should not be granted to Messrs. N. Ajamie, Antoine H.
Ashcar, John Stambouly, Abdo Assali, E. Lahame Brothers, and Faris
Antonn it will not be because of their American nationality, but
certainly for other motives, i. e. their own individuality, the same
as any other foreigner, English, French, German, Dominican, etc.
Believing that these explanations will suffice to enlighten your
excellency on the question,
I take, etc.,
[Inclosure 4.]
Minister Furniss to the Secretary of
Foreign Relations.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, January 25,
1906.
Sir: Referring to my interview yesterday
with His Excellency President Nord Alexis, at which you were
present, you will recollect that his excellency informed me relative
to the American citizens refused licenses because of Syrian origin
that if it could be proven that they were naturalized Americans
prior to the Haitian law of August 13, 1903, that license would be
granted.
I have, therefore, to inform you that I have the naturalization
papers of Abdo Assali, American merchant doing business at Aux
Cayes, and that these papers show that he was granted full
citizenship on August 6, 1903, at St. Paul,
[Page 901]
Minn., by the circuit court of the United
States of America, district of Minnesota, third division.
The American laws make it necessary that aliens to be admitted to
citizenship of the United States shall declare on oath, before a
circuit or district court of the United States, or a district or
supreme court of the Territories, or a court of record of any of the
States having common-law jurisdiction and a seal and clerk, two
years, at least, prior to his admission, that it is bona fide his
intention to become a citizen of the United States.” Therefore, Mr.
Assali must have declared his intention to become an American
citizen at least two years prior to the granting of his full papers
on August 6, 1903. From the facts stated it is evident that
naturalization could not have been with intent to evade the Haitian
law above referred to, and I have therefore to request that you
communicate these facts to His Excellency the President, that the
license may be issued.
Relative to Mr. Ajamie, of Cape Haitien, I have to inform you that I
have ascertained from the records of this office that he is the
holder of American passport No. 60197, issued on July 1, 1902, by
the State Department. Passports are only issued to fully recognized
American citizens, as supported by proofs. Mr. Ajamie’s
naturalization must have taken place at least more than a year prior
to the enactment of the law of 1903, and I have to request that his
license be issued on this evidence.
I would thank you to advise me the date on which these licenses above
referred to are issued.
Relative to the other Americans who were granted or refused licenses,
I have to inform you that I have written each one of them for their
naturalization papers and as soon as they are in hand I shall be
pleased to supply you with full information.
I take, etc.,
[Inclosure
5.—Translation.]
The Secretary of Foreign
Relations to Minister Furniss.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, January 30, 1906.
Mr. Minister: You have taken occasion by
your dispatch of January 25 to remind me of the result of the
interview which you had in my presence with His Excellency the
President of the Republic, and in the course of which it was
decided, in so far as regards the American citizens to whom licenses
had been refused because of their Syrian origin, that if it could be
proven that their naturalization was prior to the law of August 13,
1903, the license would be granted them. And after having the
kindness to set forth the laws of your country, in conformity with
which Messrs. Abdo Assali and Ajamie have acquired American
nationality, you express the desire to have delivered to them, by
the chief of state, the license necessary to permit them to carry on
commerce.
In acknowledging the receipt of the communication, with which I am
entirely in accord with your legation, I have the honor to inform
you that I will hasten to transmit to the department of finances the
necessary information with a view of granting your request.
As to your other fellow-citizens, as soon as you shall have furnished
me their names and the information concerning them, I will not fail
to examine, without delay, their status and to comply with your
request as near as possible.
I take, etc.,
