File No. 838.00/1294.
The Haitian Minister to the Secretary of State.
Washington, September 4, 1915.
Mr. Secretary of State: In the course of the conversation I had with you this morning, I had the honor to draw your attention to a telegram which the President of the Republic of Haiti was pleased to send me yesterday. The cablegram I received from His Excellency Mr. Dartiguenave positively says that the American forces landed in Haiti have successively taken possession of the Haitian customs and even of the custom house and the government of Port au Prince, lit points out that this arbitrary measure, which implies the forcible and premature enforcement of the draft of convention between the two Governments, together with the threat of American authorities to declare martial law in Haitian territory, had the effect of rousing popular feeling to the highest pitch and of endangering a situation whose satisfactory settlement appeared to be in sight. It calls to mind the conciliatory spirit which animates the Haitian Government, and which is evidenced by the counter-draft delivered on August 26 last and the conference held at the National Palace at Port au Prince on the 29th of the same month from 5 p.m. until midnight, when an agreement was nearly reached upon an exchange of views tending to adapt the propositions of the Government of the United States to the provisions of the Haitian Constitution, which can not be ignored, and to the susceptibilities of the nation.
President Dartiguenave, adding that since last Sunday he has received no answer concerning certain amendments which the Government of the Republic of Haiti deems necessary, still indulges the hope that the present tension, thanks to the tact and coolness of the responsible parties, will soon vanish and he is fully disposed to conclude an agreement that will be in perfect harmony with the principle of the independence of the State of Haiti.
In transmitting to you the foregoing paraphrase of the cablegram from the Chief Magistrate of the Republic which it is my honor to represent here, I stand convinced that the Government of the United States, which never bent its energy on crushing the weak, will dismiss and disown any idea of violence against the Haitian nation and any plan against its institutions.
Be pleased [etc.]