File No. 838.111/34.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Port au Prince, November 25, 1911.
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the Haitian Government has recommenced to attack the foreign merchants located in Haiti who sell at retail, which the law of October 24, 1876, prohibits.
During the Simon administration no effort was made to enforce the law which, in fact, has not been enforced for more than twenty years, though periodically former governments have attempted to do just what the present Government is endeavoring to do. During [Page 524] the Nord Alexis administration attempts were so frequently made to enforce the law that, upon request, the Department sent various instructions thereon.
At the commencement the campaign seemed to be directed against Syrians, and the Legation was not interested in it. However, during the last two or three days various American citizens of Syrian origin have been molested and I have promptly taken up the matter with Secretary Léger and have informed him that Americans in business in Haiti, though of Syrian origin, must have the same treatment as any other nationals, and unless the law of 1876 is strictly enforced Americans who sell at retail must not be molested.
The law of 1876 prohibits foreigners who are merchants in Haiti from selling except at wholesale and in amounts not less than Gds. 100., today about $23.00 gold. With the increasing poverty of the country this Jaw has not been enforced until now there exist no stores in Haiti which comply with the letter of the law, nor few stores which do not sell at retail as we know it. In fact, practically all the important merchants sell in any quantity in accord with the purchasers’ requests.
The stores here run by Americans are for the most part a credit to us. They are large dealers in American products. The fact that most of the proprietors are of Syrian origin is of no importance as they all are registered as citizens of the United States in our consulates by order of the Department. The law of 1903 against the further introduction of Syrians has nothing to do with the prevention of Americans of Syrian origin from enjoying the same rights as might be enjoyed by a native born American.
In presenting the cases of the American merchants to Secretary Léger, while I have been courteous, I have nevertheless been firm in stating that I would insist that American merchants have the same treatment as French or German ones without reference to parentage or racial affiliation, and I have been promised that the matter will be regulated to my satisfaction.
I have [etc.]