In the _Moniteur_, official organ of the Republic of Haiti, for
September 4, 1915, in a column headed "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,"
the president of Haiti published a proclamation on the situation arising
from the occupation by American troops of the customs-house at
Port-au-Prince.
Haitians! At the very moment when the Government, engaged in
negotiations to settle the question of the presence of American
military forces on Haitian territory, was looking forward to a
prompt solution in accordance with law and justice, it finds
itself faced with the simple seizure of possession of the
customs administration of the capital.
Previously the customs-houses of several other cities of the
republic had been occupied in like fashion, and whenever the
news of such occupation reached the National Palace or the
Department of Finances, it was followed by an energetic
protest, demanding that the diplomatic representative of the
American Government residing at Port-au-Prince restore the
customs-houses and put an end to acts so contrary to the
relations at present existing between the Government of Haiti
and the Government of the United States of North America.
Haitians! In bringing these facts officially to the attention
of the country, I owe it to myself to declare further, in the
most formal fashion, to you and to the entire civilized world,
that the order to carry out these acts so destructive of the
interests, rights, and sovereignty of the Haitian people is not
due to anything which can be cited against the patriotism,
devotion, spirit of sacrifice, and loyalty of those to whom the
destinies of the country have been intrusted. You are the
judges of that.
Nor will I conceal the fact that my astonishment is greater
because the negotiations, which had been undertaken in the hope
of an agreement upon the basis of propositions presented by the
American Government itself, after having passed through the
ordinary phases of diplomatic discussion, with frankness and
courtesy on both sides, have now been relieved of the only
obstacles which had hitherto appeared to stand in their way.
Haitians! In this agonizing situation, more than tragic for
every truly Haitian soul, the Government, which intends to
preserve full national sovereignty, will be able to maintain
the necessary resolution only if all are united in exercising
their intelligence and energy with it in the present task of
saving the nation....