File No. 838.111/69.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.-Paraphrases.] AMERICAN LEGATION, On May 18 the French war vessel Descartes arrived here and will remain pending the settlement of the Syrian question, as I am told by an employee of the French Legation, which is protecting Turkish interests. The Haitian Government seems determined to close, on May 31, all stores operated by Syrians, Ottoman subjects. File No. 838.111/76.] FURNISS. PORT AU PRINCE, May 29, 1912. Some of the thirty-one Syrian firms here are unimportant retailers who could easily liquidate, but others have stocks which could not be disposed of within the time set, extension of which is refused by the Haitian Government. File No. 838.111/73.] FURNISS. The Department of State to the French Embassy. [Memorandum.] 1 In response to the inquiry of the Ambassador of France regarding this Government's willingness to join with the French Government in urging the Government of Haiti to accord the Ottoman Syrians in Haiti an equitable extension after June first wherein to wind up their business affairs, the Ambassador of France was informed that the Government of the United States has already independently urged upon the Government of Haiti the desirability and wisdom, with respect to all foreign interests, of foregoing the enforcement of its drastic law. Moreover, inasmuch as this Government has declined to accede to a request similar to the present, made by the Ottoman Government in this matter, it does not see its way clear at the present time to join with the Government of France. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 29, 1912. File No. 838.111/75.] The Syrian American Club to the Department of State. [Telegram.] NEW YORK, May 29, 1912. The Syrian American Club has received reports from Haiti that all Syrians of foreign allegiance who remain in Haiti after May 31st are in danger of attack from Haitian natives upon their lives and property. The majority of the Syrians have departed and only those who had large business establishments are remaining, to close out their business connections. These large merchants are in account largely with United States firms, and a large financial loss This was a verbal inquiry made during a call of the Counselor of the French Embassy at the Department a few days previous to the date of this memorandum. will occur if these merchants are not permitted to liquidate. We appeal to you to wire instructions to your Minister in Haiti to obtain further time for these Syrians and protect them in the meantime against uncivilized attacks. THE SYRIAN AMERICAN CLUB. File No. 838.111/75.] The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 30, 1912. The Department is in receipt of a telegram from the Syrian American Club of New York saying that there is danger of attack upon the lives and property of Syrians who remain in Haiti after May 31. If necessary, you will make representations for the protection of American citizens of Syrian origin. You are reminded, referring to the Department's general instruction of January 20, 1912, to insist upon what shall appear to be an adequate and reasonable time for the liquidation of the affairs of such American citizens of Syrian origin as have not for any reason received licenses. You are also reminded of the Department's general instruction that the law must be uniformly enforced and that any privileges given to Syrians of other nationalities shall be given to those who are American citizens. KNOX. File No. 838.111/75.] The Secretary of State to the Syrian American Club. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 30, 1912. Your telegram May 29th. American Minister has been instructed that if necessary he shall insist upon the protection for American citizens of Syrian origin. The Syrians of nationalities other than American should of course look in the first instance for protection to their respective Governments. The Minister has already been instructed to insist on what shall appear to be an adequate and reasonable time for the liquidation of the affairs of American citizens of Syrian origin. KNOX. File No. 838.111/77.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, June 1, 1912. The stores of Ottoman Syrians, and those of Syrians of other nationalities who have not received licenses, were of losed to day. Two Americans were affected by this action, but the Haitian Government yesterday promised that their stores would not be closed and it is probable that adjustment in regard to them can be made. FURNISS. File No. 838.111/80.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. No. 1086.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, June 19, 1912. SIR: Referring to my No. 989 of December 19 last and in order to complete the files of the Department I have the honor to enclose herewith the reply of the Haitian Secretary of Foreign Relations to the identic note sent him by the Legation relative to the abrogation of trading privileges of Syrians in Haiti. I have [etc.] H. W. FURNISS. [Inclosure.-Translation.] The Haitian Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Minister. FOREIGN OFFICE, Port au Prince, January 29, 1912. MR. MINISTER: I have had the honor to receive your note No. 560 of the 8th instant, replying to mine of December 281 last concerning the notice inserted in the "Moniteur" of the 9th of the same month. This communication, however, like the first which you have taken the trouble to address me on this subject, is identical with the notes of the Ministers of France and the Dominican Republic, the Consuls of England and Cuba, which shows a previous understanding. I can only regret the tendency of the Representatives of the Foreign Powers to profit by the least incident to have recourse to the means of collective or identical notes. In calling your attention to the inconvenience of such practice, I am pleased to hope that I can count on your kind cooperation to aid me to discourage it. In the meantime, I shall ask of you the permission not to bring into discussion laws actually in force and which the Haitian Government is obliged to execute. I shall take, however, the liberty to remark that the measures of exclusion enacted in the United States and in Cuba especially with regard to the Chinese do not only treat, as your excellency maintains, of the regulation of the conditions of admission of the new arrivals; for the Chinese who are already found on the territory of these two countries can be expelled without considering whether or not the forced departure will prejudice their interests or the interests of third parties. These laws of exclusion have especially for their purpose, as I have previously shown, the protection of nationals against competition deemed prejudicial. The Republic of Haiti, therefore, does nothing contrary to international usage when, in its turn, it strives to safeguard the interests of its citizens. Therefore, it can only be surprised at the menace which is made it to give the greatest publicity to the fact that the liberty and security of commerce has received a serious blow. Strong in its right, the Republic of Haiti will leave such an accusation to the appreciation of all those who have made fortunes in it, as also all those who continue to do a lucrative business therein under a protection which it has never spared. 1 Should be 26. I wish, consequently, to believe that this will end in the recognition of the good intentions with which it is animated and I take this occasion to renew to you [etc.]. J. N. LEGER. File No. 838.111/84.] No. 1094.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, July 5, 1912. SIR: I have the honor to inform the Department that the Haitian Government has signed an agreement with certain of the stores owned by Ottoman subjects which were closed on June 1st last, whereby these stores have been allowed to open until September 30th in order to liquidate their stock. There is inclosed herewith a copy1 of the agreement taken from the official paper, "Le Moniteur". These are the important stores and I understand from the French Legation that the arrangement was brought about through the good offices of that Legation. During the past month more than twenty-five of Syrian origin voluntarily left Haiti so that now there are very few remaining. I have [etc.] H. W. FURNISS. VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HAITI. File No. 033.1100 K77/222.] The Minister of Haiti to the Acting Secretary of State. LEGATION OF HAITI, Washington, February 15, 1912. [Translation.] MY DEAR MR. WILSON: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 13th instant, relative to the decision reached by the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the President, to visit the capitals of the Republics of Central America and the Caribbean Sea, as well as those of Venezuela and the Republic of Panama and probably, also those of Mexico and Colombia. I have lost no time in forwarding the happy intelligence to my Government and I am authorized to say to you even now that it will be quite agreeable to President Leconte and his Minister to receive and honor Mr. Knox, who may also count upon the cordial reception of every class of Haitian society. I also expect that the visit of the Secretary of State, who as President of the Pan American Union will be at home everywhere, will exercise the most favorable influence on the relations of the two countries. I beg you [etc.] SOLON MENOS. 1 Not printed. 2 The identic letter printed under Panama: "Visit of the Secretary of State to the Republics of Central America and the Caribbean Sea," p. 1240. Speech of welcome of M. Jérome Salomon, Mayor of Port au Prince, on the arrival of Mr. Knox, April 3, 1912. EXCELLENCY: To-day offers an occasion of great joy to the city of Port au Prince. The fame of a fine and active intelligence which preceded your occupancy of the eminent post you now fill would alone have rendered you worthy of the most cordial reception on our part, but to your brilliant personal qualities is added your official title, which renders your visit of infinite value to us. Often the most profound sympathy takes its origin in a mark of attention. In knowing each other, societies, as individuals, develop and strengthen their bonds of friendship. Therefore, Mr. Secretary, your thought of traveling in certain countries of this hemisphere was a happy one. Within a short time, by a supreme and superb effort of man's genius, the dream which the Indian previously cherished in his native imagination-an interoceanic canal-will become a living reality. Cities, until now remote, will cease to be such. But with the geographical rapprochement an intercommunication of spirit should be effected in order to attain that excellent relationship of "good neighborliness, mutual aid, consideration, and confidence" of which you spoke two years since in your masterly address at Philadelphia. Human demonstrations are of supreme worth when directed by the heart. It is indeed the heart which directs at this time the great satisfaction felt in this capital at your presence and that of the interesting personages accompanying you. We are especially appreciative of the flattering tribute rendered us in affording us the pleasure of greeting, in conjunction with yourself, Madam Philander Knox, whose charming kindliness and courteous grace shine with such splendor in your magnificent Washington receptions, and which were so admired on January 1, last, in the superb dwelling of the Pan American Union. We hope that your excellency will take the same pleasure in your sojourn here as we do in your friendly testimonial toward the first city of this Republic. Reply of Mr. Knox. MR. MAYOR: Speaking for myself, sir, and for the members of my party, I wish to express our deepest sense of appreciation for the cordiality of the reception by the officials of the Republic of Haiti, and I wish to place especial emphasis upon the kindliness and cordiality with which we have been received by the people of Haiti. I can assure you, sir, that this has been no more gratifying to us than it will be to the President of the United States and to the people of the United States when I communicate to them the character of our reception here this morning. You have stated most eloquently one of the main reasons why my visit here is one that ought to be not only of advantage to you but of advantage to us, and that is the necessity, because of the proximate completion of the Panama Canal, for the republics and the peoples that are to be benefited immediately by the opening of that great highway to be |