File No. 13116/3–5.
Minister Furniss to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Port au
Prince, May 13,
1908.
No. 376.]
Sir: I have the honor to report in further
reference to my No. 355, of April 9, 1908, that this legation has again
had to call the attention of the Haitian Government to the fact that in
spite of the assurances given by Secretary Borno, American passengers in
transit on steamers calling here are frequently not allowed to come on
shore.
[Page 450]
Secretary Borno called on me at the legation on the 11th instant, and
during his visit I took occasion to mention the trouble to which I had
been put in trying to obtain permission for Mr. Martin J. Iorns to come
on shore from the French steamer on Sunday. I showed the manuscript of a
note (copy inclosed) which I intended to send to him that day. Mr. Borno
expressed himself as grieved that the assurances which he had given me
had not been realized. He stated that he had been shown, in the office
of the President, copy of and order which should have prevented the
incident. He reminded me of the difficulty under which he, as secretary
of foreign relations, labored, and begged me not to send him the note,
lest I embarrass him personally by forcing him to officially reply to a
matter which he had believed the President’s orders would adjust. He
stated that -he would at once go and investigate the matter and would
write me as if the refusal to allow Mr. Iorns to land here had been
brought to his attention in some other way; that later he would call in
person and make explanation.
Yesterday Secretary Borno called and said that the official who had
refused to allow Mr. Iorns to come on shore had been punished.
Personally I have doubts that even a reprimand has been given to the
general of the port, as he is too intimate an adviser of the President
for anyone other than the President to say anything to him, and I am
sure the President has said nothing.
Personally I can not see how my note intended for Secretary Borno would
have embarrassed him. As I understand it, orders were given by the
President that in future passengers in transit should be allowed to land
in Haiti if they so desired. If these orders were not carried out it
would seem to me to be a case of disciplining the officials who had
failed to do so. Other than Secretary Borno having to make an apology
for the action of the officials who had not carried out the President’s
orders, I can not see how Mr. Borno would be affected, and as Mr. Borno
subsequently did make apology (copy inclosed) I can see no real reason
for his requesting me not to send him the note, unless it is the
personal embarrassment which he might feel in having to reply to my
note, realizing as he must that he can give me no assurances which can
be depended upon.
I am confident that there will be repetitions of Sunday’s incident
whenever it pleases the officials to cause them. If mere apologies are
to be taken for the trouble and inconvenience to which this legation and
our consular officers, as a result thereof, are put, and for the more
serious inconvenience and perhaps monetary loss occasioned our citizens
desiring to land, the practice can be expected to be carried on
indefinitely.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Furniss to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Legation,
Port
au Prince, May 11,
1908.
(Not sent but read by Secretary Borno.)
Sir: Under date of March 31, 1908, I
addressed a note to your excellency calling your attention to the
fact that the authorities at various ports in Haiti were refusing to
allow American tourists and business men to go on shore at different
[Page 451] ports in Haiti where
the boats, on which they were passengers, touch. I stated that this
was not only causing unfavorable comment, but was seriously
inconveniencing our business men to the detriment of American trade.
I also remarked that this legation had frequently been greatly
inconvenienced and annoyed by having to spend time to obtain
permission for Americans, who were in transit, to come on shore here
during the short time their steamers are in port. With these facts,
I requested from your excellency a statement as to what is your
Government’s policy in this matter.
In reply to my note, your excellency, under date of April 6, 1908,
expressed regret that the authorities at the ports named had
misinterpreted your Government’s orders, and you further stated that
your Government particularly desired to facilitate the entrance into
Haiti of foreigners, etc.
Your excellency will also recall that a few days subsequent to your
official reply you personally called and assured me that orders had
been given to the end that there would be no further cause for
complaint.
Your excellency’s reply was communicated to my Government and in the
last mail my Government expressed itself as pleased at the
assurances which you gave me.
Yesterday morning, Sunday, Mr. Martin J. Iorns, a horticulturist of
the United States Department of Agriculture at the agricultural
experiment station, Porto Rico, arrived here on the S. S. Salvador. He was in transit for Cuba, but for
various reasons was desirous of coming on shore to the legation. He
made request of the Haitian official who boarded the Salvador for permission to land, which
permission was refused. He explained who he was and gave one of his
professional cards to the official with the request that it be
handed to the general of the port, with the request that permission
be granted him to come on shore during the stay of his steamer in
port. After considerable delay, word came back that the general had
refused the request.
About noon, a Haitian, an employee in the bureau of the port, brought
me a letter from Mr. Iorns, in which he stated his case and asked
that the permission desired be obtained for him. I explained to the
employee who Mr. Iorns is and showed him, for his information, your
note of the 6th ultimo referred to above. In addition I gave the
said employee my card for delivery to the bureau of the port and on
this card I explained who Mr. Iorns is, made request that he be
allowed to land, etc. It seems to me that this would be more than
enough to accomplish my desire, and, as I was particularly occupied
at the legation for the moment, the matter was dropped. At 3 o’clock
Mr. Moore of the legation staff, happening to call, I sent him to
see what had become of Mr. Iorns, as he had not called at the
legation. Mr. Moore went to the bureau of the port where he was told
that my card had been received and understood, but that the general
had not returned and as strict orders had been given not to allow
anyone to land from the S. S. Salvador, the
officials in charge could not grant the permission requested. Mr.
Moore then proceeded on board to explain the matter to Mr.
Iorns.
Meanwhile, about 4 o’clock, I went to the bureau of the port and
after a short conversation with the official in charge, the same one
Mr. Moore had seen, an order granting the permission requested was
issued and sent on board the Salvador, but as
the steamer was announced to sail at 5 o’clock, Mr. Iorns thought it
too late to come on shore.
I have gone into details in this matter that you may be aware of all
the circumstances.
What I am desirous of knowing is this: (1) If orders were issued, as
you say in your note of the 6th ultimo would be, why did the general
of the port in the first instance refuse permission to Mr. Iorns to
come on shore?
(2) When my personal card with explanation and request was received
at the bureau of the port, if the employee in charge was without
power to grant the request, why did he not promptly refer it to a
superior officer who had such power?
(3) If the officer in charge had not the power to grant the request
on my card, or the personal request made by Mr. Moore of this
legation, how is it that he had the power to grant it to me in
person within half an hour afterward, when he told me that he had
not seen the general of the port since the receipt of my card?
Yesterday being Sunday, and not knowing where you might be found, the
matter could not be referred to you and attempt was made to settle
the matter more speedily. To that end, recourse was had to
communication with the bureau [Page 452] of the port direct, as it was the only office
of your excellency’s Government open.
It was to prevent just this annoyance and waste of time that I
addressed to your excellency my note of March 31, 1908, and it was
the thought that your assurances would be realized which caused my
Government to view your note with the satisfaction which has already
been mentioned.
Your excellency will please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Furniss.
Foreign Office,
Port au
Prince, May 11,
1908.
No. 91.]
Mr. Minister: I have just learned that Mr.
Martin J. Iorns, an American horticulturist, arrived yesterday in
our harbor on the French steamer, and wishing to come ashore, he was
prevented by the commandant of the port.
I regret very much that that officer should commit such a breach
against the orders that he had received and of which I had
previously informed you.
In hastening to assure you that that officer will be punished as he
deserves, I take this occasion to renew, etc.,
