838.51/943a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti ( Bailly-Blanchard )
64. You are instructed to obtain an interview with the President of the Republic and to present to him the following in the form of a note verbale: [Page 775]
“The Department of State has been instructed by the President of the United States to acknowledge the receipt of the cablegram of his Excellency the President of Haiti advising the President of the United States that by order of the American Minister at Port au Prince the Financial Adviser to the Haitian Republic has suspended payment of the salaries due for the month of July to the President, the Secretaries of State and the members of the Council of State of the Haitian Republic. The President of Haiti protests against this measure which he terms an assault upon the dignity of the Haitian people.
The Government of the United States deeply regrets the cause which has impelled the American Minister to take this grave step. The President of Haiti will recall that the Treaty of September 16, 1915 between the United States and Haiti was concluded with the purpose of confirming the amity existing between the two Governments by the most cordial cooperation in remedying the condition of the revenues and finances of Haiti, in maintaining the tranquility of the Republic, and in carrying out plans for the economic development and prosperity of Haiti and its people.
The objects desired can only be obtained, the President of Haiti will readily appreciate, by the closest cooperation between the two countries. Such cooperation which so happily existed heretofore has recently unfortunately been lacking, and the American officials whose appointments are provided for in the Treaty have encountered in the fulfillment of their duty not only opposition on the part of the Haitian Government, but also a deliberate disregard of the provisions of an agreement, growing out of the Treaty, which was solemnly entered into by both Governments.
During the period when cooperation between the two Governments in the carrying out of the purposes of the Treaty fortunately continued, the President of Haiti will recall that the Government of the United States, which by the terms of the Treaty has undertaken the reorganization of Haitian finances in order to enable Haiti to liquidate fully her debts, did not insist upon a strict compliance with the requirements of Article 5 of the said Treaty, but gave priority to the payment of the current expenses of the Government of Haiti over the payment of the amortization and interest of the Haitian debt. Such action, the President of Haiti will realize, can only be undertaken when the Government of the United States and the Government of Haiti are in such full accord as to render it possible to carry into effect the objects of the Treaty. The Government of the United States has regretfully been forced to the conclusion that these purposes are at present impossible of attainment by reason of the recent and marked change in the attitude of the Haitian Government. The Government of the United States has therefore been obliged to take steps to provide for a strict observance of the terms of Article 5 of the Treaty of September 16, 1915 until such time as the Haitian Government shall evidence its desire once more to cooperate with the American Treaty officials in the carrying out of the aims and objects of the Treaty.
In the belief, however, that the present situation may have been caused in part by misunderstanding or lack of full comprehension of its obligations under the existing Treaty on the part of the Government of Haiti, the Department of State has informed the American [Page 776] Minister at Port au Prince that he may, as an act of deference, if he believes such a step would be conducive to a better understanding, suspend the action which he has taken in directing that the salaries of the President, the Secretaries of State, and the Councilors of State of Haiti be withheld, for a period of 30 days, in the hope that before the conclusion of that period the Government of Haiti may once more manifest its desire to cooperate cordially with the Government of the United States in carrying out the objects of the Treaty.
The Government of the United States is animated by no selfish purpose in its relations with the Government of Haiti, but is guided by true friendship for the Republic of Haiti and the Haitian people, and by regard for the responsibility which it has assumed in standing as sponsor before the world for the performance by Haiti of her international obligations. It has no ulterior purpose. Its sole aim is to assist the Haitian Government to place the revenues and finances of the Republic on a stable basis; to help the Haitian Government to maintain such tranquility in Haiti as can only be obtained by the general observance of law and order, and to contribute in every proper way to advance the prosperity of the Republic and the well-being of its people.”