Mister President

I have the honour to submit to your Excellency letters from the President of the French Republic accrediting me as Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Haiti, the Nation whose votes have called you, Mister President, to occupy the top authority.

Inspired by the sentiments that animate the French Government, I will apply myself to further strengthening, in the interest of the development of the prosperity of both countries, cordial and long-lasting relations, and I am counting on the benevolent support of your Excellency as well as the friendly cooperation of his Government, to help me to pursue this task, in a fruitful and effective manner.

I am glad, for that matter, to have been designated by the confidence of the President of the French Republic to represent France in a country that is so similar to ours in terms of language and institutions, in a way that produces mutual sympathies.

Allow me the opportunity to respectfully offer to your Excellency my sincere expressions of hopes that I am forming for his person and for the Haitian nation.

The President responded to this speech in the following terms:

Mister Minister,

It is with great pleasure that I receive the letters from his Excellency the President of the French Republic, that accredit you as Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Haiti of which I occupy the top authority.

I have never doubted the good wishes of the French Government, though it still gives me infinite pleasure to receive this new assurance from you.

It is my conviction, Mister Minister, that your presence at the head of the French legation is a pledge of harmony and of cordial relations between our two countries. The reputation of loyalty, of uprightness and sincerity that proceeded you here is a sure guarantee for me. You can also count fully on my willingness to facilitate your task in any way that I can.

We do not have much to do in order to succeed in strengthening the ties of good friendship that unite Haiti to France. As you have said well, there is between us a conformity of language and institutions which can only lead to mutual sympathies. What nature and history have done, it will only be consolidated by our common willingness.

I accept with all my heart the good wishes you are forming for my person and for the Haitian nation. I would be bursting with happiness if Heaven, in granting your wishes, also protects His Excellency President Carnot and the valiant French Nation.

Except from the Moniteur,
Official newspaper of Haiti