838.00/3213
The Third Secretary of Legation in Haiti
(Drew) to the Secretary of
State
No. 352
Port-au-Prince, July 9, 1934.
[Received July
12.]
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,
[Enclosure 1—Translation]
Draft Note From the Haitian Foreign
Office
Port-au-Prince, July ,
1934.
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.
Signed at Port au
Prince in duplicate in the French and English
languages this .
. . . . . day of July, 1934
.
[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.
Presidential
Palace, Cape Haitian
, July
5, 1934.
