File No. 4880.
Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.
Port au Prince , March 2, 1907 .
(Reports that the Haitian authorities have announced that they will at once enforce the law of 1876, which, if done, would drive all foreign merchants from Haiti, and would occasion very great loss. States that he has seen the Haitian minister for foreign affairs whose statement is not satisfactory, and that the diplomatic corps has unanimously agreed not to tolerate discrimination, adding that the law must be strictly enforced or not at all. Says that all have agreed that when the law is enforced against the first foreigner each foreign minister on the same day will present protest against the law, and if Haiti persists in the execution of the law, to request delay for liquidation of firms and opportunity to publish in the foreign press that Haiti is closed to foreign trade. Asks to be informed if his adherence to the above is sanctioned.)