Mr. Douglass to Mr. Blaine.
Port-au-Prince, April 17, 1891. (Received April 29.)
Sir: Referring to your several dispatches, Nos. 89, of January 9; 97, of February 13; 99, of February 27; and 105, of March 11, 1891, and to my Nos. 120, of January 26, and 127, of February 9, 1891, all of which were devoted to the consideration of representations and complaints arising [Page 655] from the detention here of our sailing vessels until the customs duties on their inward cargoes are paid, I have the honor to inform you that, as a result of my continued and unceasing efforts, I have this day secured from Mr. Firmin, the Haitian minister of foreign affairs, the positive verbal assurance that President Hyppolite will, in his forthcoming; annual message to the Corps Législatif, make the earnest recommendation that the law or decree by which this detention is exacted be speedily repealed.
Mr. Firmin seemed to have no doubt but that the President’s recommendation in regard to this matter would be favorably passed upon by the Congress.
Considering the long standing of this burden on our commerce, and considering, also, the successive unavailing efforts of my predecessors to have it removed, it affords me satisfaction to have obtained from the Haitian minister the positive verbal promise of speedy redress.
As soon as I shall have received, as I expect to receive, written confirmation of Mr. Firmin’s promise, I shall have the honor to address you further on the subject.
I am, etc.,