John Mercer Langston to To the Hon. William M. Evarts, March 12, 1879
No. 246. Mr. Langston to Mr. Evarts.
No. 133.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 112, I have the honor to advise you that the “identic protest” of the English, French, and German Governments, made to the Haytian Government, against the consular exactions of the law of the 23d of August, 1877, was, on the 7th instant, answered by the government addressed.
A copy of the reply made to the representative of the French being, as I am informed, identical with that made to the representative of the German government, together with a copy of the paragraphs of the reply made to the representative of the English Government, which are omitted in the other replies, I herewith transmit to you, with translations.
I am advised that the representatives named propose to transmit, at once, such replies to their several governments for further instructions.
Of course, in view of the position heretofore taken by the Haytian Government on this subject, such replies were to be expected.
I am, &c.,
Difference of the text of the Response of the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs relative to the consular taxes of Hayti, addressed to the representative of H. B. M.
- 2d paragraph.—On the 12th day of January, 1878, this department received from the minister resident of H. B. M. a protest upon this subject, to which it replied on the 16th of the same month. Up to the day of your dispatch the British legation having made no objection to the arguments presented by my government to justify the law in question, it was reasonable to suppose that this affair was settled between my department and the legation, whose silence could imply an acceptation of the exposé which had been made to it.
- 10th paragraph.—In this dispatch I have resumed the discussion undertaken upon this question by this department on the 16th of January, 1878, by adding a new argument to these already presented to the legation. I hope, sir, that the general considerations above mentioned will suffice to convince you of the legitimacy of the impositions whose maintenance I defend, &c.