The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-25
HAYTI is AFRAID.
Refuses the United States Permission
to Establish Weather Service
Stations.

Washington, Aug. 25.-It has just de-
veIoped that the Hayden government,
in it's recent refusal to permit the estab-
Hshment of United States weather
bureau station there, based its action on
a suspicion that the United States in
tended it as an initiative to territorial
acquisition on that island. While al
most all of the governments negotiated
with, cheerfully co-operated in the
movement for the extension of our
weather service, Hayti absolutely re-
fused. The result was Instructions of
the most positive character refusing to
allow any word of our weather warn
1ngs in any shape to reach that country.
The correspondence between the two
governments follows:
Legation of the United States, Port
au Prince, Hayti, July 2, 1898.
Hon. Brutus St. Victor, Secretary of
State for foreign Affairs, Port au
Prince.
''Sir: My government, in order to
more completely study the atmospheric
changes in the tropics, desires to estab-
lish meteorological stations in various
parts of the West Indies, South and
Central America. My government de-
sires to have your republic ioin in this
great benefit that will be attained from
the meteorological observations in the
study of the great hurricane and storm
centerS so prevalent at certain seasons
of the year in that section which not
only bring widespread damage to the
commerce, but also lays waste great
areas of territory. In the establish
ment of such stations, the knowledge
will be such as to give warning to the
worlds commerce.
''These stations will be equipped with
the latest and best instruments to
study all features of the atmosphere
as they may occur in these ATTITUDES
Desiring that you should share in the
great benefit therefrom, it asks of you
your cooperation in this advancement
in the world of science not by the ex-
penditure of money on your part, but
that one of these stations be established
within the limits of your republic NV
government suggests, and as have al
ready stated, requests your co-opera-
ton and consent that such an Observa-
tory be located at Mole St. Nicholas,
on account of its advantageous position
and it's connection by cable with the
leading commercial centers. You will
greatly favor me by returning an early
reply. Accept, Mr. Minister, my high
regard and consideration. I have the
honor, etc, w F. POWELL
Hayti'S answer follows:
Department of State for Foreign
Relations, Port au Prince, July 6, 1898
MFR. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of dispatch of
second of this month, No. 135, by which
you inform me of the desire of your
government to proceed to the estab-
lfshment of meteorological observatory
at Mole St. Nicholas, and begging me
to obtain the assent of the Haytien gov
eminent in favor of the project Well
this observatory would be called to rem
der to navigation in general, the gov
eminent of the republic of Hayti,
which I FASTENED to inform of that in
teresting question, giving way to con-
sideratiOn of high interior politics.
sees itself with much regret, unable to
grant favOrably your request am
well persuaded, Mr.. Minister, that the
space of time, short as it may be- that
has expired since your happy arrival
among US, will amply suffice to a mind
as perspicacious and high as yours to
appreciate at their value the imperious
reasons that have led the Haytien gov
eminent to take this decision.
please accept, ETC.,
"B. ST. VICTOR"
Promptly on the receipt of this, Sec !
rotary Wilson gave Chief Mare of the !
weather bureau, the following instruc-
tons:
Il forward you a copy of the Hay |
ten governments dispatch, declining !
to permit US to esta blish a meteoroIog- /
zeal station in that territory I think !
it is exceedingly unfriendly on their /
part, but of course all we can do is to |
make use of the contiguous countries (
that are friendly to US. I desire that /
in the conduct of your work in the Car |
ibbean sea you give no information or !
copies of dispatches to the Haytien gov |
eminent and have no correspondence
whatever with it along meteorological I
lines. Evidently they are suspicious /
of Interior motive on the part of this
government and it is our duty to keep
away from them entirely"