File No. 838.51/409.
The Secretary of the Navy to Admiral Caperton.
Washington, August 19, 1915.
In accordance with the desires of the State Department, you are directed to assume charge of the following custom houses: Jacmel, Aux Cayes, Jérémie, Miragoane, Petit Goave, Port au Prince, St. Marc, Gonaives, Port de Paix, Cape Haitien. You will use the funds that are collected for organizing and maintaining an efficient constabulary, for conducting such temporary public works as will afford immediate relief to the discharged soldiers and starving populace by giving them employment, and finally for the support of the Dartiguenave Government. The American officials placed in charge will be supplied by you with the necessary customs guards. You will [Page 519] direct these officials to collect all import and export duties and deposit same immediately with the respective local branch of the National Bank of Haiti under separate account opened in your name. This account should be drawn against for the purpose mentioned above. For the time being any surplus of this account will be held in trust for the people of Haiti by the United States Government.