838.00/1275½a
The Secretary of State to
President Wilson
Washington,
August 10, 1915
.
My Dear Mr. President: I enclose to you a copy
of the telegram which was sent last night by Admiral Benson to the Naval
Commander at Port au Prince, after I had received your telegram and
advised him of the change in the wording of the original draft.
We have had no further advices as to the situation, but I believe that
unless there is a decided change we will be able to arrange matters very
much as we please.
Faithfully yours,
[File copy not signed]
[Enclosure—Telegram—Paraphrase]
The Acting Secretary of the Navy (Benson) to Admiral Caperton
Whenever the Haitians wish you may permit the election of a President
to take place. The election of Dartiguenave is preferred by United
States. You will assure the Haitians that the United States has no
other motive than the establishing of a firm and lasting government
by the Haitian people and wishes to assist them now and at all times
in the future to maintain both their political independence and
territorial integrity unimpaired. That the Haitian Government will
grant no territorial concessions to any foreign governments will be
insisted upon by the United States. The question of the session of
Mole St. Nicholas will be taken up later by the government of the
United States along with the other questions to be submitted to the
reorganized government with regard to its relations to the United
States.
