Office of the Historian

File No. 2126/69–71.

Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Port au Prince, January 17, 1908.
No. 280.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of the correspondence between this legation and the Haitian Government relative to the blockade decreed at Gonaives and St. Marc.

I have, etc.,

H. W. Furniss.
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Furniss.

Foreign Office,
Port au Prince, January 17, 1908.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform you that, with a view of promptly assuring the success of the military operations undertaken against the rebel cities of Gonaives and St. Marc, the Government of the Republic has made a decree placing the ports of the said cities of Gonaives and St. Marc in state of blockade.

In begging you to inform your Government to take such such steps as usage demands I take, with pleasure, this occasion to renew, etc.,

H. Pauleus Sannon.
[Inclosure.]

Minister Furniss to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

American Legation,
Port au Prince, January 17, 1908.
No. 241.]

Sir: I am in receipt of your excellency’s note of to-day in which you inform me that your Government had decreed the ports of Gonaives and St. Marc, now in the possession of the revolutionists, blockaded, and agreeable to your request have advised my Government of the same.

In acknowledging the receipt of your excellency’s note I desire to state that, agreeable to various precedents, your excellency’s Government’s decree of blockade will be accepted by my Government with the usual reservations acknowledged by international law.

Please accept, etc.,

H. W. Furniss.