338.6253/2

The Minister in Haiti ( Bailly-Blanchard ) to the Secretary of State

No. 402

Sir: Referring to this Legation’s radio No. 41 of July 22 [25], 9 A.M.62 and in compliance with the Department’s cable instruction No. 54 of July 29, 6 P.M.,62 I have the honor to forward herewith copy of the project of law62 on the organization in Haiti of the “Office of Compensation” provided for by Section III, Part X of the Treaty of Peace signed at Versailles on the 28th of June 1919, which was submitted to this Legation by the Haitian Government in accordance with the agreement of August 24, 1918,63 and which, after careful examination, was returned to the Foreign Office with the approval of the Legation.

Subsequently, under date of July 17, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the Legation that the Council of State had passed the above law but had added two new articles thereto, copies of which are herewith enclosed.

These two articles not appearing to this Legation to be in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Peace, I requested that the law be not promulgated pending receipt of instructions from the Department in the premises.

I enclose copies of the correspondence on the subject exchanged between the Legation and the Foreign Office.62

I have [etc.]

A. Bailly-Blanchard
[Enclosure—Translation:64]

Articles 14 and 15 of the Project of Law for the Establishment of a Clearing Office

  • Article 14. Since the Clearing Office is to pass only upon individual debts standing between Germans and Allied nationals settled in Haiti, the owners of property in custody shall immediately be reinstated in possession of their property or paid the proceeds of the liquidations already effected as soon as—
    (1)
    The expenditures of the Public Treasury for the internment of former enemies shall have been repaid;
    (2)
    The debts chargeable to them under article 296 and its annexes, and article 297, 2d paragraph of section (b), and 4th paragraph of section (h), of the Treaty of Peace shall have been settled.
  • Article 15. Owners of property in custody who may desire to resume business in Haiti shall be afforded every facility to do so by conforming to the laws of the country.

The Haitian Government, however, will use every means of public order at its disposal to recover from them the quota charged to them by the Clearing Office on the amount of damages due from the German Government to Haitians as provided by sections (1), (2), and (3) of annex I to article 232 of the Treaty of Peace.

Those who may wish to leave the country shall not be permitted to avail themselves of the provisions contained in article 297, paragraph 4 of section (h), except after full settlement of their personal debt and the share on the amount of claims preferred against Germany by Haitian citizens that shall have been charged against them by the Clearing Office or Reparation Commission.

  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Not printed.
  4. Foreign Relations, 1919, vol. ii, p. 309.
  5. Not printed.
  6. File translation revised.