838.00/1691f
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Bailly-Blanchard)
Sir: Because of the situation which has recently developed in Haiti, and in view of the recommendations contained in your telegram of August 20, 11 a.m.,30 the Secretary of the Navy has instructed Rear Admiral Harry S. Knapp to proceed to Port au Prince as Military Representative of the United States in Haiti.31
The attitude of antagonism adopted by the Haitian Government at the present time and the consequent tension which now exists between your Legation, and the American treaty officials in Haiti, and the members of the Haitian Government has caused the Department grave concern. The Department realizes that you have sought to do nothing more than your duty, and that you have desired that no dangerous friction should develop because of present conditions. The Department feels, however, that it often happens that a situation which proves hopelessly intractable to the immediate parties to a controversy of this character becomes more readily manageable upon the introduction of a new personality into the discussion. It is hoped that the presence of Admiral Knapp in Port au Prince as the Military Representative of the United States may have this desired result, and that by reason of the powers vested in him he may render you the support and assistance which it is the desire of the Department to afford you.
The Department is sure that you will accord to Admiral Knapp, in his dealings with the Haitian Government, your full and cordial cooperation, and desires the American treaty officials to collaborate with him in every way.
From recent information, the Department is led to believe that the Haitian Government is desirous of accepting any recommendations [Page 797] made to it by this Government, and it is hoped that upon the arrival of Admiral Knapp, if it has not yet done so, the Haitian Government will at once take steps to put into immediate effect the program suggested in the Department’s telegram of August 26, 7 p.m.,32 by suspending immediately all legislation passed in violation of the agreement of August 24, 1918, repealing such laws, or portions of laws, as may not be approved by you, and enacting immediately the legislation which the Department has indicated it considers necessary for the well-being of the Haitian people. It is also hoped that as soon as this program shall have been carried out the Haitian Government will signify its willingness to adopt the modifications to the contract of the Banque Nationale de la République d’Haiti, agreed to by this Government, and subsequently approve without delay the transfer of the amended contract to the new Bank.
The Department regrets that it has not succeeded apparently in impressing you with its desire that you keep it closely advised of all developments in your negotiations with the Haitian Government, and that in view of the delicacy of the situation you communicate with the Department and receive the Department’s approval of the measures you intend to carry out before taking any important step. The Department realizes the many calls upon your time, but it has felt itself hampered recently in considering the situation which has arisen in Haiti for lack of more full and detailed information, and it is hoped that you will keep it sufficiently informed in the future.
I am [etc.]
- Ante, p. 776.↩
- Rear Admiral Thomas Snowden was to be relieved of his duties as Military Representative in Haiti for the period during which Rear Admiral Knapp should remain in Haiti (letter from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 30, 1920, file no. 838.00/1691d).↩
- Ante, p. 781.↩