John Mercer Langston to William H. Seward, January 24, 1879

No. 245. Mr. Langston to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 51, and to transmit, herewith inclosed, a copy of the identic note of protest presented this day to the Haytian Government by the representatives of the French, the British, and German Governments against the consular impositions made under the law of the 23d of August, 1877. You will perceive on reading the protest that, while it covers the matter repealing the law, it says nothing as to reimbursement.

This branch of the subject may not be specially interesting to the governments making the protests; but to our government, whose citizens have already paid, under protest, if not more, certainly $50,000, and the estimate of the Haytian Government as income from this source for the the year 1878 is some $85,000, this branch of the subject is of special importance and must not be neglected.

Because this branch of the subject has already been presented by our government, and its importance is of such significance to our citizens, and it is wholly omitted in the note of protest herein inclosed, it may be well that I have not been instructed to join in making the same; and yet, of course, I shall await any instructions which you may hereafter see fit to give me, with the deepest interest.

I am, &c.,