File No. 4880/8–14.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Furniss.

No. 67.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 171 of the 8th ultimo, inclosing copies of correspondence with the Haitian foreign office in the matter of the enforcement of the law of 1876.

[Page 741]

In your note No. 148 of the 6th instant to the Haitian foreign office you say: “I therefore, with the approval of my Government, most energetically protest against the application of a measure so unfriendly to foreigners in general and American firms in particular.”

The department’s telegram of March 5 to you was drawn in such a way as to exclude any protest from you in behalf of foreigners. The interests of this Government in Haiti are peculiarly American and its methods of redress are different.

To prevent entangling alliances American interests were separated from foreign interests and you were directed to protest in behalf of your countrymen in Haiti and were likewise instructed to disassociate yourself from the other foreigners.

Inasmuch, however, as the incident has found a solution which does not appear to imply discrimination against American interests, it does not seem necessary to retract or qualify the statements of your note, but you will bear this instruction in mind, should the question be revived, or any fresh issue of a similar character be presented.

I am, etc.

Robert Bacon.