File No. 2126/365.
Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.
Port au Prince, December 11, 1908.
The official paper to-day publishes decree convoking Congress on the 17th instant for election of president. The cabinet of Simon is also given. It contains no one of prominence and is a compromise affair, Simon having allowed the different sections to name a member. This temporarily establishes peace, but as Simon will have himself declared elected president by congress, then trouble will again commence. I have received this afternoon a note from the provisional Haitian minister for foreign affairs stating that:
General Simon—named chief of executive power by the decree of the sixth instant—while awaiting the coming presidential election, has had the kindness to call me as councillor to the department of foreign relations, etc.
While this is not in accord with diplomatic usage, it is presumed to be a request for recognition. This is the only communication which has been received from Simon’s government. Under the circumstances can I recognize his provisional government?