Minister Furniss to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, March 2,
1906.
No. 26.]
Sir: In further reference to my No. 11 of
February 16, 1906, relative to the Government of Haiti withdrawing the
exequatur of our vice-consul at Cape Haitien, I beg leave to inclose for
the information of the department the correspondence between this
legation and Consul Livingston.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Furniss to Consul Livingston.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, Haiti, February 17,
1906.
Sir: I inclose herewith copies of the
correspondence between this legation and the Haitian Government
relative to Mr. Behrmann, your vice-consul.
For the information of this legation I would thank you to make a
thorough investigation of the charges made against Mr. Behrmann, and
ascertain if it is true that he was warned that his actions were
objectionable to the Llaitian Government.
In view of the fact that the Haitian Government has withdrawn Mr.
Behrmann’s exequatur as vice-consul, you have no alternative but to
nominate another in his stead.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Consul Livingston to Minister Furniss.
Cape Haitien, Haiti, February 27, 1906.
Sir: Replying to your letter of the 17th
instant, inclosing copy and translation of a communication from the
minister of foreign relations of Haiti, making charges of political
activity on the part of Mr. Th. Behrmann, American vice-consul here,
against the present Haitian Government and withdrawing his exequatur
as vice-counsul, I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a
letter from this consulate to Mr. Behrmann and his reply, making a
sweeping general denial of all charges. Although the sympathies of
Mr. Behrmann are generally supposed to be in favor of the opposition
to the Government, I have not been able to verify any specific overt
act of interference on his part.
It is proper for me to add that, inasmuch as the consular regulations
require that the appointment of his successor be approved by the
department and that the reasons for a change be stated, I have asked
the Department of State for instructions as to whether the
withdrawal of an exequatur on general charges of political activity
may be considered as sufficient cause for making the change.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Consul Livingston to Vice-Consul Behrmann.
Cape Haitien, Haiti, February 21, 1906.
Sir: It becomes my duty to call your
attention to the inclosed copy and translation of a communication
from the minister of foreign relations of Haiti to the American
minister at Port au Prince and referred to this consulate by [Page 875] the American minister,
making charges of political activity on your part against the
present Haitian Government and withdrawing your exequatur.
You are requested to make reply to these charges without delay and
forward the same to this consulate.
Respectfully, yours,
[Inclosure 4.]
Vice-Consul Behrmann to Consul Livingston.
Cape Haitien, Haiti, February 21, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
reception of your letter of to-day, inclosing copy and translation
of a communication from the minister of foreign relations of Haiti
to the American minister, making charges of political activity on my
part against the present Haitian Government, and withdrawing my
exequatur as vice-consul at the residence of Cape Haitien.
Having carefully gone over this communication, I emphatically and
earnestly deny said charges against me. Since the thirty years that
I have lived in Haiti, I have always conformed myself to its laws
and have never meddled in political affairs. The actual President,
Gen. Nord Alexis, can personally give the best information of it.
During the number of years while his excellency was délegué in this
department, he never had any cause to complain against me and while
in active service, representing the United States of America, from
1889 to 1893 in Port de Paix and from 1895 to 1898 in Cape Haitien,
there were the most cordial relations between the délegué and
myself, in charge of the consulate.
I positively deny the possibility of bringing any tangible proof
against me to sustain said complaint and declare it a villainous
conspiracy of some unknown enemy of mine.
I sincerely hope that the Government of the United States of America
will demand from the Haitian Government the proofs of the facts
advanced against me before admitting the withdrawal of my exequatur
as vice-consul.
I have, etc.,
