Office of the Historian

838.51/2722

The Minister in Haiti (Armour) to the Secretary of State

No. 161
Port-au-Prince, October 20, 1933.
[Received October 23.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s telegrams No. 106 of September 28, 12 N, and 108 of October 5, 8 p.m. and the Department’s telegrams No. 72 of October 4, 6 p.m. and No. 73 of October 9, 3 p.m., all concerning the proposed exchange of notes with the Haitian Government to correct certain omissions in the Finance Law of July 4, 1933.

There is enclosed herewith a copy of the draft note which the Legation submitted to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on October 10, 1933. Due to the departure of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other members of the Government for Cape Haitien shortly after this date, no reply has yet been received from the Haitian Government. However, it is expected that a reply will be received within the next few days, following which I shall promptly telegraph the Department any important changes which may be proposed in the text of the Legation’s draft note forwarded herewith. It is desired to expedite the final signature of the exchange of notes as much as possible in view of the fact that the acting Financial Adviser has not considered it advisable to make any refunds for overpayment of customs duties until the question of his authority under the Finance Law is finally settled.

Respectfully yours,

Norman Armour
[Enclosure]

Draft Note for the Haitian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, October 10, 1933

Excellency: With reference to the Law on the Budget and Public Accounting dated July 4, 1933, which was published in Le Moniteur No. 68 dated August 24, 1933, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency [Page 783] that it is the understanding of my Government that paragraph 1 of article 17 thereof will not be interpreted in such a way as to alter the present practice and procedure regarding the method of effecting restitutions and regarding reports to the Minister of Finance.

It is also the understanding of my Government that no omissions in the Budget and Public Accounting Law of July 4, 1933, will be considered as affecting in any way the functions and attributions of the Financial Adviser-General Receiver as defined by the Treaty of September 16, 1915, and the Accords relative thereto.

I should be glad to receive Your Excellency’s assurance that these understandings are in accordance with the views of the Haitian Government.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.