File No. 838.15/30
The Secretary of State to the Minister of Haiti
Washington, December 22, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th ultimo, in which you make reference to the application of Article XIII of the Convention of September 16, 1915, between the United States and the Republic of Haiti, and in which attention is called to certain difficulties which you state your Government has experienced in regard to the operation of the said article.
You are also pleased to state that it was understood by your Government that the public works and the departments thereof, which were in the hands of the American forces in occupation, would be turned over to it on the first of October, 1916, and that this has not been done, although repeated requests have been addressed to the American Legation at Port au Prince and the engineer appointed by the terms of the treaty had reported that he was ready to enter upon the full performance of his duties.
In reply I have the honor to acquaint you with the fact that my Government can see no difficulties in the situation, inasmuch as all works are being satisfactorily carried out, and is at a loss to under [Page 368] stand the error into which the Government of Haiti has fallen in thinking that it has been agreed upon to turn over the public works to the Government of Haiti at any stated time. It is well understood by the Government of the United States that the engineer appointed according to the treaty had notified the Department of Public Works of the Republic of Haiti that he was ready to enter upon his official duties, but it was also understood by this Government that he had requested the cooperation of the occupation in these works, for the obvious reasons that he had not at hand the organization which was necessary to undertake and to carry on the work in the proper manner.
I also desire to inform you that the Government of the United States considers that its observance of the articles of the treaty has been carried out in strict accord with its interpretation thereof and feels sure that the Government of Haiti, upon a reconsideration of this matter, will clearly see that the best interests of the Republic of Haiti have been those first to be considered by the Government of the United States.
Accept [etc.]