No. 364.
Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish.
Port au Prince, October 16, 1873. (Received Nov. 1.)
Sir: From tidings which have reached me of the condition of affairs in St. Domingo, but which have come in such a shape of exaggeration, confusion, and contradiction, that hardly any single item of importance can be reliably put forward in a dispatch, I am inclined to believe that the revolutionary factions in that country recently met with some unexpected successes, which have, however, fortunately been checked by the forces of President Baez. I do not consider it probable that the insurgents are now, or likely soon to be, in a position to jeopardize the solidity of the existing government there. But it appears to me possible that the new movements and activity adopted by them may impede, or even indefinitely pospone, the confidential negotiations which were in progress, (see my No. 235, of August 11, 1873,) looking to the peaceful retirement of some of them to the peninsula of Samana.
The sympathies of the Haytian government undoubtedly rest, as from the first, with the insurgents.
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I shall observe with careful interest the dispositions which the late occurrences in that quarter may evoke from those in authority under this government, and of course report to the Department any fact that may be thought worthy of attention.
I am, &c.,