File No. 2126/257–262.
Minister Furniss to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, May 12,
1908.
No. 374.]
Sir: I have the honor to state, in further
reference to the department’s instructions No. 112, of April 11, 1908,
that I now consider that our Government’s policy as to the matter of
asylum is known throughout Haiti.
I inclose herewith copy of my instructions to our various consulates and
have to report that they have all acknowledged their receipt and have
stated that they have given the matter the greatest possible
publicity.
I endeavored to have the local papers make use of the information as a
matter of news, but, failing in that, I requested Secretary Borno to
assist me in giving publicity to it. He had it published in the official
paper and subsequently it has been copied by the daily and weakly
press.
I inclose herewith correspondence with Secretary Borno and a copy of the
announcement as it appeared in the official paper.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Furniss to Consul Livingston.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, April 24,
1908.
Sir: Several of our consuls and consular
agents have requested instructions as to what is to be the practice
of the American consulates in Haiti regarding the acceptance of
persons who are being pursued for the so-called political
offenses.
That there might be no misunderstanding I requested the State
Department at Washington for positive instructions relative to this
matter of asylum, and under date of April 11, 1908, I have been
instructed by the Department as follows:
“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 by 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.”
You are directed to take particular note of these instructions and to
see that they are carried out in so far as your office is
concerned.
Respectfully,
[Inclosure 2.]
Minister Furniss to Consul Livingston.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, May 2,
1908.
Sir: In response to inquiries of the
various consuls and consular agents I have to say that it is the
intention of our Government that the instructions sent you as to
sheltering Haitian refugees be given the greatest possible
publicity.
[Page 437]
The means of giving publicity to the matter will have to be left to
your judgment, as I am not cognizant of the method employed in the
different sections of Haiti.
I can see no objection to your requesting the Haitian authorities at
your place to assist you in making the matter public.
Respectfully,
[Inclosure 3.]
Minister Furniss to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, May 2,
1908.
No. 270.]
Sir: I have recently received instructions
from my Government as follows:
“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.”
This is communicated to your excellency with the request that you
will assist this legation in giving publicity thereto.
Your excellency will please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure
4.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Furniss.
Foreign Office,
Port au
Prince, May 2,
1908.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to receive
your communication, No. 270, of this date, transmitting to me
instructions received from your Government.1
The department takes note of this information to which it will not
fail to give publicity.
Please accept, Mr. Minister, etc.,
[Inclosure
5.—Translation.]
Department of State for Foreign
Relations.
[From Le Moniteur.]
That no one may be ignorant thereof, the department of foreign
relations makes known that it has received from the American
legation at Port au Prince, the official notice of which the
following is a translation:2
* * * * * * *
Exact copy:
Amilcar Duval, Chief of Division.
