The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Furniss .
Washington , March 5, 1906.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 11, of the 16th ultimo, inclosing copy of a note from the Haitian minister of foreign affairs, announcing the withdrawal by his Government of the exequatur of Mr. Theodore Behrmann, vice-consul of the United States at Cape Haitien, on the alleged ground of political activity on behalf of the enemies of the Government; also a copy of your reply.
The department thinks you might have expressed even more strongly the desirability of following the custom which has grown up in the intercourse of nations of making known to a friendly government the reasons which may have caused its representative to become persona non grata and asking his recall. The nature of the reasons assigned in the present case, especially as the vice-consul is not a citizen of the United States, would have invited ready acquiescence in the request for a change. Abrupt cancellation of the representative’s exequatur, without the customary communication to the Government whose agent he is, imports a degree of discourtesy which this Government would be reluctant to deem intentional. You will bring this aspect of the matter to Mr. Ferere’s attention and invite appropriate explanation.
I am, sir, etc.,
Acting Secretary.