File No. 838.51/469
[Untitled]
Port au Prince , January 20, 1916, noon .
Following note received from Haitian Minister for Foreign Affairs:
[Translation]
For reasons of strict economy, in the presence of the difficulties of the financial situation now existing, aggravated as much by late civil troubles as by the European war, the Haitian Government has decided to provisionally confine the guard of the national palace to an elite corps drawn from the Haitian [Page 345] gendarmerie and of which the members will be acceptable to the President of the Republic.
It is well understood that this decision of civil authorities does not prejudice in any way, contrary dispositions that may be agreed upon at Washington between the Department of State and our Special Commissioners.
I take it for granted that the Haitian Commission, in pursuance of instructions telegraphed yesterday, have agreed to phraseology of provision regarding gendarmerie. Therefore, unless I hear from you to the contrary, I will, on Monday next, acknowledge receipt and concur in second paragraph as quoted.