Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 5, 1916

File No. 838.51/481

Minister Blanchard to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

American Legation,
Port au Prince, February 26, 1916, 9 a.m.

Your February 18, 4 p.m. last paragraph. Mandates are still issued by the Government for payments desired by it. When received by the administrator of customs the facts are inquired into and payments made, when considered proper, to the individuals to whom the amounts are due, never to the Government payers. While these mandates are not necessary they serve to indicate the Government’s concurrence in payments made.

Blanchard