File No. 2126/221.
The Secretary of State to Minister Furniss.
Washington, April 11, 1908.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 347, of the 27th ultimo, in which you request instructions as to what is to be the practice in your legation and the American consulates in Haiti regarding the acceptance of persons who are being pursued for the so-called political offenses.
In reply I have to say that previous instructions have made it clear that this Government does not recognize the so-called right of asylum. Recent conditions prevented that policy from being carried out with regard to refugees who were then actually under shelter.
Now that the American legation and consulates have been cleared of refugees, you will make it distinctly known that no more Haitian refugees will be admitted to shelter by you or your subordinates and that no pretext will be afforded for reawakening the question of asylum so far as the Government of the United States is concerned.
I am, etc.,