838.00/3213

The Third Secretary of Legation in Haiti (Drew) to the Secretary of State

No. 352

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copies and translations of a draft note from the Haitian Foreign Office forwarding to the Legation the proposed text of a note modifying the provisions of Articles I, II and V of the Accord of August 7, 1933.

The proposed note will have the effect of placing into force the informal agreement reached between President Roosevelt and President Vincent in their conversations at Cape Haitian on July 5 for the complete Haitianization of the Garde d’Haiti on August 1, 1934, and the withdrawal of the Marine Forces now in Haiti within the following fortnight.

The text of the Haitian Government’s note has been submitted to the Commandant of the Garde d’ Haiti and the Director of the American Scientific Mission and meets with their approval. M. Laleau,13 in handing the draft note to me this morning, expressed the hope that a prompt reply could be received from the Department so as to permit the proposed exchange of notes to be effected at as early a date as possible. It is respectfully requested that the Department telegraph the Legation authorization for the exchange of notes together with any changes in the text thereof which may be necessary.

For the information of the Department, I have the honor to enclose copies of the communiqué issued by the Haitian Government following the conversations of July 5 at Cape Haitian. While the communiqué was originally drafted by the Foreign Office, certain necessary changes in the text thereof were made by the Legation prior to submitting it to the President. The President personally inserted the words appearing at the end of the second paragraph, “a fortnight later,” instead of, “on August 15, 1934,” as originally provided, with the understanding that this expression when rendered into French would furnish a certain latitude with regard to the date of final evacuation. The revised communiqué proved acceptable to President [Page 299] Vincent and was published by the Government in the form of a communiqué in the semi official Haiti-Journal with the English text appearing as the original and the French text given as a translation.

The Commandant of the Garde d’Haiti informs the Legation that plans are being completed for the carrying out of the new arrangement and the Director of the American Scientific Mission has indicated his intention of turning over his service to the Haitian Government as of the same date, August 1. It has been learned informally that the First Brigade has received no information from the Navy Department concerning the date when transports or other vessels will be furnished to evacuate the members of that organization.

Respectfully yours,

Gerald A. Drew
[Enclosure 1—Translation]

Draft Note From the Haitian Foreign Office

Mr. Minister: As Your Excellency is aware, in the course of the conversations which were held in Cape Haitian on July 5 between His Excellency, President Vincent, and His Excellency, President Roosevelt, it was agreed, on the request of the Haitian Government and because of the rapid progress of the Garde d’Haiti, to terminate on August 1, 1934, the services of the American officers in that organization and in the following fortnight to effect withdrawal of the Marine Brigade.

Giving effect to this understanding, I have the honor to communicate to Your Excellency in the name of my Government a draft accord for that object. I am most anxious to receive in the shortest possible time a communication from your Government concerning this draft, in order that we can fix an early date for the signature of the accord which is to be concluded between our two Governments.

Once again rendering due homage to the friendly disposition shown by the Honorable President of the United States toward the Haitian people and Government, I take this occasion to reiterate to you, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my high consideration.

[Enclosure 2—Translation]

Draft Agreement Between the United States and Haiti, Modifying the Agreement of August 7, 1933

The undersigned Plenipotentiaries, duly authorized by their respective Governments,

Whereas the President of the Republic of Haiti and the President of the United States of America, in the course of their conversation at Cape Haitian on July 5, 1934, reached the agreement, because of the [Page 300] rapid progress made by the Garde d’Haiti, to terminate completely the services of the American officers in that organization on August I of this year,

Whereas the President of the Republic of Haiti and the President of the United States of America, on the request of the Haitian Government, have furthermore agreed on the withdrawal of the Marine forces of the United States of America in the fortnight following August 1, 1934;

Have agreed to the following arrangement:

Article I

On August 1, 1934, the service of the American officers in the Garde d’Haiti shall terminate. On the said date the Garde, under complete command of Haitian officers, will be turned over to a colonel in active service whom the President of Haiti shall designate as Commandant.

Article II

The withdrawal of the Marine Brigade of the United States and the American Scientific Mission, established by the Accord of August 5, 1931,14 shall be effected in the shortest period possible in such a manner as to be complete in the fortnight following the termination of the services of the American officers in the Garde.

Article iii

The provisions of the present arrangement modify those of previous treaties and agreements between the contracting parties which may be contrary thereto, notably, the stipulations contained in Articles I, II and V of the Accord of August 7, 1933.

.
[Enclosure 3—Translation]

Communiqué Issued by the Haitian Government, July 5, 1934.

During the conversation held today, July fifth, in Cape Haitian, between President Roosevelt and President Vincent, the following conclusions were reached:

1.
In view of the rapid progress made by the Garde d’Haiti, and upon the request of the Haitian Government, it has been agreed that the Garde d’Haiti will be turned over to complete Haitian command on August 1, 1934. All American Marine forces now in Haiti will be withdrawn a fortnight later.
2.
President Roosevelt informed President Vincent of the action of the Congress of United States which authorized him to present to the Haitian Government a portion of the equipment belonging to the American Government, now in use by the Garde d’Haiti and Marine forces in Haiti.
3.
Negotiations will be begun shortly between the two governments for the conclusion of a commercial treaty the underlying principles of which have been under discussion for some time.15

It is hoped that such a treaty will result in a mutually profitable increase in the commerce between the two countries.

The conversations held between the two Presidents at Cape Haitian have served to reaffirm the feeling of friendship and cordiality existing between the United States and Haiti, a feeling which was signally marked in the course of their conversations held last April in the city of Washington, D. C.

  1. Léon Laleau, Haitian Secretary of State for Foreign Relations.
  2. Foreign Relations, 1931, vol. ii, p. 505.
  3. See pp. 308 ff.