File 838.77/113.
Minister Blanchard to
the Secretary of State.
No. 26.]
American Legation,
Port au Prince,
January 4, 1915.
Sir: Referring to the Department’s cable of
December 23, I have the honor to forward herewith copy of the memorandum
I handed the Minister of Foreign Relations after my interview with him
with reference to a further suspension of the foreclosure proceedings
[Page 546]
against the National
Railroad Company of Haiti, together with a copy and translation of the
memorandum dated December 26 received in reply and which I requested in
confirmation of the assurances given me verbally.
I have [etc.,]
[Inclosure 1.]
The American Legation
to the Department of Foreign
Relations.
American Legation,
Port au Prince,
December 24, 1914.
The American Legation in pursuance of instructions just received, has
the honor to inform the Department of Foreign Relations that the
Government of the United States hopes that the foreclosure
proceedings against the National Railroad of Haiti will be suspended
until such time as all questions pending between the Haitian
Government and the railroad can be considered at Washington.
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
The Department of Foreign
Relations to the American
Legation.
Department of Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince,
December 26, 1914.
The Department of Foreign Relations has had the honor to receive
to-day the memorandum of the 24th instant, by which [etc.]
In response, the Department of Foreign Relations has the honor to
inform the American Legation that the Government of the Republic of
Haiti, in order to give the Government of the United States a new
testimony of its sincere spirit of conciliation, is happy to accept
the good offices of the American Government and is willing to
consent to a suspension, until a date to be fixed later, of the
putting into adjudication of the concession of the Natioal Railroad
Company of Haiti, all things remaining as they are and without any
prejudice in anything to the principle set out in Art. 16 of the
contract of concession of April 16, 1910.
The Department of Foreign Relations thinks it ought to renew here the
declaration that this acceptance of suspension is under the express
reserve that if in the interval no understanding has been arrived at
between the parties to the cause the procedure will continue in
conformity with the contract which binds the Haitian Government and
the National Railroad Company in Haiti.
The Department of Foreign Relations retains the hope that this
company will present without delay to the Haitian Government, by its
authorized representatives, all propositions susceptible of bringing
about a just solution of the pending questions.
