File No. 838.00/1041.
[Untitled]
Port au Prince, December 2, 1914, 3 p.m.
Your November 28, 8 p.m. and my December 1, 9 a.m.* * * Minister of Foreign Affairs informed me last evening that as a result of campaign being made by the Senate and public against control of customs by foreign power, the Haitian Government finds it impossible to empower its commission to carry on negotiations under this head, but that there has been prepared a counter project for financial control granting certain concessions and privileges which is thought to be a fair substitute therefor, avoiding the irritating and offensive idea of customs control. It may be well to remark that to-morrow Minister of Foreign Affairs is to be interpellated by the Senate regarding his negotiations with this Legation with regards to commission and customs control. Minister of Foreign Affairs showed me a part of a draft of this counter project. This may or may not be acceptable to the Department as it does not cover strictly Article I of your November 12, 2 p.m.
However, I would respectfully suggest that the commission be accepted with credentials empowering its members to negotiate but in view of changed circumstances to avoid possible misunderstanding that recognition will not be granted until satisfactory conclusion of negotiations. Urgent, reply requested.