Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward
Sir: In an interview which I enjoyed yesterday with her Catholic Majesty’s minister of state, Mr. Benavides took occasion to tell me that Mr. Madion, the minister for Hayti, had approached him with a proposition for what he called the neutralization of that entire island. This proposition, as I understood it, was the expression of a wish that the great maritime powers should bind themselves together, and, with Hayti, to respect the neutrality and territorial independence of that island under all circumstances, or to make a kind of American Switzerland of it, as Mr. Benavides expressed it. The minister went on to say that he had remarked that in the United States we were not so much influenced by the question of the form of government adopted by our neighbors as we were by that of the interference of European powers in American concerns.
Brazil was an empire, and we were not its enemies on that account. Hayti had changed its form of government spontaneously and we had not interfered What we insisted on was, that, as we did not meddle in the political affairs of Europe, Europe should not meddle in the political affairs of America.
Mr. Benavides was determined to listen to no proposition, take no step at all referring to any part of America, except the Spanish colonies of Cuba and Porto Rico, without counting beforehand on a good understanding with the United States. Every other mode of proceeding, every other reliance, was futile. This was his policy in American affairs, which he considered to be a wise policy, and the only one which Spain ought to adopt.
Therefore he had immediately asked Mr. Madion whether the proposition he made here had also been made to the United States.
Mr. Madion had told him that the United States were agreed on this and desired it. Mr. Benavides had answered, very well; but let it be understood that Spain will not entertain any proposition of this nature, nor treat with any body in relation to it, till she is assured that the government of Washington is to be a party to the convention if made, and that that government was desirous it should be made.
I said that I had no instructions at all on this subject, and did not know whether anything had been proposed or said by the government of Hayti to my government or not. What I could do would be to report what his excellency had just said to Mr. Seward, and whatever the reply might be, I should take great pleasure in conveying it to Mr. Benavides; meantime I must reserve entirely the manifestation of any opinion on the merits of the question presented, or the probabilities of what the President would think about it.
[Page 515]Mr. Benavides requested me to write to you about it j and it being tacitly understood that this government would not proceed at all in this business, until your instructions should be received by me, the subject dropped,
I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. SEward, Secretary of State, Washington.