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denounced by Haiti and was to expire April 30, is to be extended for six months, to give oportunity for further negotiation looking to a permanent treaty.

The agreement has been written, and only awaits authorization from the French Government for the formal signing.

I have, etc.,

H. W. FURNISS.

No. 46.]

Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, April 2, 1906.

SIR: In further reference to my No. 33, of March 12, I have to inform the department that the convention between France and Haiti for the prolongation of the treaty therein mentioned was signed on the 31st ultimo by Minister Bezaure and Secretary Férère.

I have, etc.,

H. W. FURNISS.

No. 109.]

Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,

Port au Prince, October 10, 1906. SIR: I beg leave to inclose herewith copy of a protocol signed by the French minister and the Haitian secretary of foreign relations, published in the official paper of to-day, by which the commercial treaty existing between the Governments of France and Haiti, and which would have expired October 31, 1906, will be extended until January 31, 1907.

I have, etc.,

H. W. FURNISS.

[Inclosure.-Translation.]

PROTOCOL.

The Government of the Republic of Haiti and the Government of the French Republic, to put an end to the state of uncertainty in which the two countries find themselves concerning their commercial and maritime relations, and animated with an equal and sincere desire to negotiate and conclude a new convention to replace the one that was signed between the two countries July 31, 1900, have come to an agreement to again prorogue, provisionally, the commercial convention made July 31, 1900, between Haiti and France.

The undersigned, duly authorized to that effect, have in consequence agreed to the following:

The commercial convention signed July 31, 1900, between the Republics of Haiti and France, is maintained in force for another period of three months, from October 31, 1906, to January 31, 1907.

In witness whereof the undersigned have drawn up the present protocol and have thereto affixed their seals.

Done in duplicate at Port au Prince, October 6, 1906.

H. PAULEUS SANNON.

BEZAURE.

EXHIBITS OF HAITIAN PRODUCTS IN HAITIAN CONSULATES.

No. 95.]

Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, September 14, 1906.

SIR: I inclose herewith copy of a law relative to creating exhibits, etc., of Haitian products at Haitian consulates and agencies, as published in the official paper of September 12, 1906.

I am, etc.,

[Inclosure. Translation.]

LAW.

H. W. FURNISS.

Nord Alexis, President of the Republic, in view of article 69 of the Constitution;

Considering that great publicity in the world's markets is necessary to produce an outlet for our commodities;

Considering that it is necessary that the consuls and consular agents of the Republic should lend their assistance to that publicity in an efficacious manner; That the state owes to this means of outlet and the sale of our products in foreign countries its greatest support;

On the report of the secretary of state for finance and commerce, and the advice of the council of the secretaries of state, has proposed and the legislative corps has voted the following law:

ARTICLE I. It is obligatory on all consuls and consular agents of Haiti to reserve a place in their offices for exhibiting various samples that shall be sent to them from Haiti, and particularly by the chamber of commerce.

ART. II. The aforesaid agents are required to transmit to the secretary of state for commerce, and to the chamber of commerce, all communications, requests for information, etc., that may be made to them relative to these samples.

ART. III. The present law shall be published and executed under the supervision of the secretary of state for finance and commerce.

Given at the House of Representatives, August, 13, 1906, year 103 of the independence.

The President of the House,
S. ARCHER.

The Secretaries,

G. DESROSIERS,
LOUIS BRUTUS.

Given at the National House at Port au Prince, August 28, 1906, year 103 of the independence.

The President of the Senate,

T. A. DUPITON.

The Secretaries,

R. DAVID,
DIOGÈNE LEREBOURS.

In the name of the Republic, the President of Haiti orders that the above law of the legislative corps be vested with the seal of the Republic, printed, published, and executed.

Given at the national palace at Port au Prince, August 28, year 103 of the independence.

By the President.

NORD ALEXIS.

The Secretary of State for Finance and Commerce,

F. MARCELIN.

LAW FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PETROLEUM REFINERY.

No. 119.]

Minister Furniss to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Port au Prince, October 25, 1906. SIR: I inclose herewith copy and translation of a law passed by the last session of Haitian Congress and signed by the President on September 20, 1906, but which did not become a law until its promulgation on the 20th instant.

This law is of importance in that it grants to a Haitian, or a company to be formed by him, the right to establish and operate a petroleum refinery. By the terms of the law the machinery, fuel, materials, etc., necessary for the establishment of the refinery, as well as such articles as are necessary for the proper operation of such a plant, are to be admitted free of all duty.

The Government virtually grants the concessionaire a monopoly in the kerosene oil trade, for, as soon as the refinery is ready to start, the duty on refined oil is increased to such a figure that imported kerosene can not compete with that locally refined.

In return, the concessionaire is required to pay into the Haitian treasury the equivalent of what would be the duty charges on the quantity of kerosene put on sale by the refinery, and the refinery is required to sell its product cheaper than like quality could be imported, as shown by the market price abroad.

Provision is made for the refining of such crude oil as may be found here, but I understand that crude oil has never been found in workable quantities, so recourse will have to be had to importing crude oil from the States.

I understand that agreement has been entered into with American capital and that it is the intention to commence the mounting of the refinery plant here in early December, and refining will begin as soon thereafter as possible.

I have, etc.,

H. W. FURNISS.

[Inclosure.Translation.]

LAW.

Nord Alexis, President of the Republic,

By virtue of article 69 of the constitution,

Considering that it is the duty of the state authorities to give the greatest encouragement and protection to enterprises which shall furnish employment and means of existence to a number of our fellow-citizens;

Considering, moreover, that the enterprise which is the subject of the present act will have, as a consequence, the improvement of an article of daily consumption, and the augmentation of the revenues of the State, Upon the report of the secretary of state for finance and commerce. Has proposed, and the legislative corps has voted, the following law: ARTICLE I. The Government accords to Mr. Edmond Roumain, in his own and proper name, the right to refine petroleum, and to construct upon the littoral, or in the interior, tanks for crude petroleum and its products.

ART. II. In case that concessions may be accorded in future for sources of petroleum which could be found in the country, and in case that the future concessionaires may not desire to contract a refinery, Mr. Edmond Roumain shall be obliged:

(1) To receive the crude petroleum that the concessionaire would have delivered to him;

(2) To store in tanks destined for the purpose the crude petroleum in question, in consideration of a tax of 1 cent American gold per month per 50 gallons, and this for all expenses generally whatsoever of receipt into tanks, of depot, and delivery to ships or car tanks;

(3) To deliver to the parties concerned certificates of depot, warrants, negotiable either here or abroad;

(4) To purchase, upon the request of the depositors, their certificates of depot, according to the market price of petroleum.

ART. III. In case that the yield of the sources of national petroleum, and that the obligatory purchase of the above-mentioned certificates of depot give only an insufficient quantity for his refinery, Mr. Edmond Roumain shall have the right and exclusive privilege to import crude petroleum or its unfinished products for refining in Haiti, and he may use this right during the deep borings and the construction of pipe lines to carry to the littoral the national petroleum which might be found.

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ART. IV. The concessionaire, in the interest of the State as well as in his own, as soon as he shall commence the construction of the refinery in question, must push with great activity the deep borings under the inspection of the state's engineers, except in case of force majeure," which he shall have verified, and must cease the importation provided for in the preceding Article III when the sources of national petroleum shall be sufficiently abundant. This importation can be recommenced only in case of the insufficiency provided for in Article III.

ART. V. As the petroleum refined in the country is to be put on sale in our market cheaper than the illuminating oil that could be imported, according to the figure of the foreign markets, which will cause the importation of kerosene to cease and deprive the State of the duties on that article, Mr. Edmond Roumain agrees to pay to the State, in payments to be made each three months, and according to the present tax, the equivalent of the duties upon all the quantity of illuminating oil put on sale in the country by the refinery.

ART. VI. As the conditions of cheapness which petroleum refined in Haiti shall have, together with certain commercial advantages which shall be given to consumers, ought to augment the consumption in a little time, the concessionaire agrees also to pay to the State the equivalent of the duties at the present tax upon all the quantity coming from the refinery, which will be consumed more than at present, thus allowing to the State a share of the profits in the development and increase of the affairs of the refinery.

ART. VII. An agent appointed by the department of finances shall control, by the books of the refinery, the quantity of illumination petroleum delivered for the interior consumption of the country, and upon which the equivalent of duties provided for in Articles V and VI shall be paid each three months. The department may, besides, adopt any other system of control which it might deem necessary.

ART. VIII. The degree of inflammability of the petroleum in the present tariff, viz, 38° centigrade or 100° Fahrenheit, having been found much too low to insure the consumer against all danger, it is forbidden to put on sale in our markets any illuminating oil under 48.8° centigrade or 120° Fahrenheit. The state officials shall see that this prohibition is firmly carried out.

ART. IX. The present duties on kerosene oil having been found to be much too low, and the state authorities wishing effectively to protect a new industry which has found so much protection in other countries, the duties on illumination kerosene shall in future be paid as follows:

P.

Kerosene illuminating oil at 48.8° centigrade or 120° Fahrenheit, per gallon ---

0.20

Wharfage:

Case of 10 gallons in 2 cans

.25

Barrel of 50 gallons, the barrel..........

1.25

The new duties named above shall be applied when the petroleum refined in our country is put on sale in our markets. The beginning of this sale shall be notified by the concessionaire to the department of finances, which shall apply the above-mentioned new duties from that moment.

ART. X. The stock and stores, tools, chemical products, the crude petroleum and its products for refining, fuel, materials necessary for the construction, exploitation, and maintenance of the refinery, or accessories for the sale of the

refined products shall be admitted free of all duties and customs taxes, and the products of the refinery which may not find a sale in our interior markets may be exported free of duties; also all the overplus of the national crude petroleum. At each importation of the articles above indicated a list shall be submitted by the concessionaire to the department of finances in order to obtain their free entry.

ART. XI. The persons employed in this new industry under whatever appellation shall be composed of at least two-thirds Haitians.

ART. XII. If difficulties or contestations shall arise concerning the interpretation or execution of one or more clauses of the present law, they shall be settled by the competent courts.

ART. XIII. The concessionaire may constitute a joint-stock company after the forms and according to the regulations established by law upon the subject. ART. XIV. By reason, first, of the proportional dues to be paid to the State for the exploitation of the national petroleum; second, of the annuity to be paid to the Government in virtue of Article V above mentioned; and third, by reason of the participation of the profits reserved to the State by Article VI of the present law the refinery, shares, and bonds of the company provided for in Article XIII preceding, will be free of all taxes and future taxes.

ART. XV. The present law revokes all law and dispositions of law which are contrary to it, especially the law of August 9, 1896, and will be executed under the supervision of the secretary of state for finance and commerce.

Given at the Chamber of Representatives, Port au Prince, September 7, 1906, one hundred and third year of the independence. The President of the Chamber,

The secretaries,

S. ARCHER.

G. DESROSIERS.
LOUIS BRUTUS.

Given at the national house, Port au Prince, September 13, 1906, one hundred and third year of the independence.

The President of the Senate,
T. A. DUPITON.

The secretaries,

R. DAVID.
DIOGENE LEREBOURS.

In the name of the Republic, the President of the Republic orders that the above law of the legislative corps be vested with the seal of the Republic, printed, published, and executed.

Given at the national palace, Port au Prince, September 20, 1906, one hundred and third year of the independence.

By the President.

NORD ALEXIS.

The secretary of state for finance and commerce.

F. MARCELIN.

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