711.38/125: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Bailly-Blanchard)
Tour July 18, 9 a.m.
The Department desires the understanding should be arrived at by a less formal means than the memorandum submitted by you in your July 3, 12 noon. It is thought advisable that the understanding relative to legislation bearing upon the Treaty of 1915 be regarded as an interpretation of the terms of that Treaty.
[Page 309]Therefore a reply in writing from the Haitian Government concurring in the note you delivered to the President of Haiti pursuant to the Department’s June 22, 2 p.m. will achieve the desired understanding.
You will request an audience with the President and remind him of the arrangement between himself and this Government relative to direct negotiation in matters of major importance; inform him of the difficulties you have experienced with Minister for Foreign Affairs as set forth in your July 18, 9 a.m. and request him to have the reply referred to above sent to the Legation. You will ascertain at this audience whether or not the Minister for Foreign Affairs is aware of the arrangement for transaction of major negotiations between the President of Haiti and the American Legation as initiated in Department’s May 29, 3 p.m. If the Minister for Foreign Affairs is cognizant of this, Department cannot but consider his attitude in regard to understanding in reference to legislation as being against the purpose of the Treaty.