838.00/2965: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Haiti (Munro)
41. Your 40, May 18, noon. The Department feels that it would be wiser in the new convention to provide for the appointment of the employees in the customs service by appointment of the President of Haiti upon nomination by the President of the United States. There would be no objection, of course, in practice to continuing the procedure which it is understood is now being followed and which substantially amounts to the commissioning by the President of Haiti of employees who have been nominated by the Financial Adviser.
It is, of course, apparent that this Government must be able to insist on the employment of a sufficient number of Americans in the Financial Services to insure their orderly and satisfactory operation and it is believed this result can best be assured by retaining the control provided for in Article I of the new convention, as drafted in the Department. Making the changes in titles which you suggest, the first paragraph of this article would then read:
“The President of Haiti shall appoint, upon nomination by the President of the United States, a Fiscal Agent and Deputy Fiscal Agent with such aides and employees as may be necessary, who shall [Page 481] collect, receive and apply all customs duties on imports and exports accruing at the several custom-houses and ports of entry of the Republic of Haiti.”
In discussing this question you may make it clear that this Government is in full accord with the Haitian Government as to the desirability of operating the Financial Services with the minimum number of Americans possible and desires to replace Americans by Haitians as rapidly and as fully as may be found feasible.