The outstanding feature of Mr. Sannon’s letter is its apparent acceptance
of the plan set forth in my letter of December 20th. as a basis for
further negotiations. Mr. Sannon carefully leaves the Haitian Government
free, so far as his letter is concerned, to ask a very much more rapid
replacement of American officials than my letter had contemplated and it
is of course probable that the Haitian Government will demand just as
much along this line as it thinks it might be possible to obtain. It
will be difficult, however, after carrying on conversations along the
lines which I laid down in my letter of December 20th. for the
Government to revert to some of the extreme and objectionable features
of its own plan, such as the demand for complete American withdrawal
from the Treaty Services in one or two years and for the immediate
appointment of Haitian co-directors of the Treaty Services, who would
practically take control of the Services at once. I believe that there
is every indication at the present time that a satisfactory accord on
the question of Haitianization can be reached. What the Haitian
Government and Haitian public opinion chiefly desire appears to be some
assurance that the withdrawal of American officials is actually under
way and that there is no intention to impose an extension of the Treaty
after 1936.
I am by no means certain that it will not be possible eventually to
permit a more rapid withdrawal of Americans from the Treaty Services
than our present plans contemplate. The advice given by the heads of the
Services on this point is naturally influenced by a desire to maintain a
maximum of efficiency in their organizations and a reluctance to
handicap their Services in the performance of constructive work. It is
very difficult to determine to what extent efficiency should be
sacrificed in the interest of a more rapid training of the Haitian
personnel. I should not recommend going beyond the plans already
formulated by the Treaty Services without mature consideration of the
consequences. The process of Haitianization cannot be reversed when it
is once under way and any ill-considered step along this line [Page 277] might therefore do irreparable
damage for which the Government of the United States could not avoid
responsibility so long as the Treaty remains in effect. I intend
therefore to discuss the matter with the Haitian Government for the
present on the basis of the programs formulated by the Treaty officials.
It may be possible to make changes in these programs on the basis of a
better knowledge of conditions in Haiti and after more detailed
observation of the work performed by each Service in various parts of
the Republic.
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Haitian Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Sannon)
to the American Minister (Munro)
Port-au-Prince, December 30,
1930.
Dear Mr. Minister: On the occasion of your
visit on the 20th of this month to the Department for Foreign
Affairs, and at the end of [Page 278]
our interview, you had the kindness to hand me a personal and
confidential letter of the same date, in reply to the memorandum
which I had the honor to address to the Legation of the United
States on the Haitianization of the Treaty Services.
Although the proposals contained in the said memorandum were the
result of a long preparation and are in conformity with the objects
envisaged by our two Governments in anticipation of the approaching
expiration of the Treaty, I agree with you that there is occasion to
undertake a minute study of the entire question. I am, therefore,
fully prepared to proceed with you without loss of time to an
examination of the Haitianization plan submitted to your
Legation.
The importance which the Government attaches to a definitive accord
on all the points under discussion is in its eyes the more important
in that the results which it is proposed to obtain have for it a
national interest.
Our pressing desire to conclude this accord fortunately is in harmony
with that which the Government of the United States itself continues
to manifest.
Before submitting to you reflections and reservations which your
observations on the Haitianization plan have suggested to me, I wish
to point out my appreciation of the friendly spirit in which you
have undertaken the negotiations.
a. On the Haitianization of the Public Works
Service.
In reply to this section of the Memorandum, you inform me that all of
the eight departments or districts which make up this service are
now under the direction of Haitian engineers, with the exception of
the districts of Cayes and Jérémie.
You add that the office at Aux Cayes will probably be turned over to
a Haitian engineer within three or four months, if I understand your
idea correctly.
With regard to Jérémie, you say that there is no Haitian engineer
immediately available, but one is being trained for this district. I
understand that the Haitian engineer, Salès, now at Jérémie, is well
prepared by his long practice to take charge of that office
immediately. M. Sales during two or three years was the assistant to
the departmental engineer of the Artibonite and of the Northwest. He
was even provisionally in charge of the administration of that
department and, subsequently, was in charge of the sub-district of
St. Marc, before going to Jérémie. He has, therefore, the desired
training and competence to take charge without delay of the district
of Jérémie.
The Haitianization indicated for the departments of the North and the
Artibonite is far from being complete. There are still two American
inspectors over the Haitian engineers Champana and Sixto who are
stationed there, and orders and instructions from the headquarters
of the Public Works service are transmitted to them through the [Page 279] American inspectors. The
Government proposes that these two inspectors be at least recalled
to the central office at Port-au-Prince.
By Haitianization, my Government understands in effect the promotion
of Haitians to directive and administrative positions and it is
certainly in this sense that it is understood by the Government of
the United States.
Under these conditions, in every service or branch of service where
there is a Haitian assistant who is discharging his duties with
competence, he is qualified to replace the American superior. It is,
besides, you will agree with me, the only practical means of
preparing the way in time for the liquidation of the Treaty and of
carrying out the intentions of the two interested Governments.
b. On the services of the Central Office of
Port-au-Prince.
I note with pleasure the assurance which you give me that Haitian
engineers are now being trained to become chiefs of the eight
divisions of this office, and that the services of Irrigation and
Public Buildings will soon be confided to them.
The Government is convinced that the Haitian engineers, L. C.
Ethéart, Maignan, Léon Ménos, Péreira, F. Azor, Louis Roy and
Jeannot, respectively assistants in the services of Irrigation,
Public Buildings, Telegraphs, Roads or Municipal Engineering,
Cadastral Survey and General Administration, can without
disadvantage to these services replace the American employees who
are now in charge thereof.
You repeat the assurance that five out of the eleven American
civilian employees in the central office at Port-au-Prince will be
dismissed within a short time.
c. On the Haitianization of the Service
d’Hygiene.
You inform me that of the ten sanitary districts four, namely those
of Port-au-Prince, St. Marc, Jérémie and Petit Goave, have all been
placed under the direction of Haitians. I shall await an opportunity
to discuss this question with you at greater length. I note that the
American doctors will soon leave the hospitals at Hinche and Jacmel,
to make place, if I understand you correctly, for Haitian
doctors.
You add that the sanitary districts at Gonaives and Aux Cayes may be
Haitianized in 1932 or 1933, leaving only the districts of
Port-au-Prince and Cape Haitien under American health officers.
I shall wish to discuss the period indicated for the Haitianization
here envisaged because it seems to me too long.
Concerning the Service d’Hygiene, you inform me that the personnel of
the headquarters at Port-au-Prince and the General Hospital is now
largely Haitian and that it will be more so as the expiration of the
Treaty draws near.
The Government does not deny that the personnel at the headquarters
of the Service and at the General Hospital includes many [Page 280] Haitians, but it wishes to
call your attention to this fact: That true Haitianization should
aim toward the promotion of the Haitian doctors and employees to
positions of administration and authority before the expiration of
the Treaty.
d. On the Service Technique.
I note with satisfaction that our views on the broad lines of the
reorganization proposed in the memorandum of the Government are in
accord.
It appears easy to me to accomplish rather rapidly the Haitianization
of this important service.
A Haitian assistant is attached to each of the departments of this
service. There are, besides, a number of young Haitians who have
already specialized, or are now specializing, for all branches of
this service in universities in the United States.
It would be appropriate to increase the number of these Haitian
students. This is a question which I would like to make the subject
of one of our early interviews.
Since you are willing to recommend to your Government the acceptance
of the proposal, providing for the division of the Service Technique
into two branches, and you wish to discuss further with me the
question in its entirety before recommending to your Government the
acceptance of a definitive plan, I can only place myself at your
entire disposition for the discussion in question.
e. On the Haitianization of the Office of the
Financial Adviser-General Receiver.
Here, the views of the Haitian Government are not at all in accord
with those which you express in your letter. There is certainly some
misunderstanding in your mind which I wish above all to dissipate.
The Government absolutely does not believe that the Protocol of 1919
and the loan contract constitute obstacles to the Haitianization of
the Treaty Services directed by the Financial Adviser-General
Receiver. I reserve this question, nevertheless, preferring to make
it the subject of one of our future interviews.
In thanking you for your communication, I take [etc.]
