Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880
No. 410.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Evarts.
Port-au-Prince, August 9, 1880. (Received August 27.)
Sir: I have the honor to advise you that on the 2d instant the President presented to the National Assembly his message, or the general exposé of the situation of the Republic of Hayti for 1880–’81.
I transmit herewith inclosed to the Department three copies of this document as published by the government.
I also transmit herewith inclosed a translation of all that part of the exposé which is entitled “Foreign Relations.” This portion of the message must prove interesting, as showing in a succinct yet very minute manner the relations of this government to the foreign powers whose representatives are found here, with allusions to the various subjects of diplomatic consideration at present in debate.
The several other portions of the paper not only show the general purpose of the present administration to advance as rapidly as possible the welfare of the country as regards its finances anScommerce; the reorganization of its army and navy; its agriculture; its public works and general internal improvement, police and other; its judicial system, public instruction and religion; but the present condition of the country as respects the subjects mentioned, as well as the projects of amelioration proposed for legislation by the administration.
I am, &c.,
Extract from the message of the President of Hayti, as published on the bth of August, 1880.
foreign relations.
I experience profound satisfaction in advising you that the events which have occurred in the country since the 30th of June of last year have not in their effects disturbed the international relations of the republic, as happens in the internal dissensions of a state, which, in damaging often the interests of foreigners, beget diplomatic difficulties, resulting sometimes in complications. Thanks to the persistent measures of order taken by my government, the public security is perfectly assured, and foreign interests are sheltered against every assault.
Our late events have occasioned reclamations of indemnity, addressed to my government by the representatives of certain powers, for losses which their citizens may have sustained. My government could not allow such reclamations, by reason of that principle that a State cannot be held responsible for losses or injuries sustained in analogous circumstances—a principle consecrated by practice in the political life of modern peoples.
Nevertheless, my government has, of itself, come to the aid, in a feeling of humanity, of a very small number of foreigners whose feeble interests have been injured by such occurrences. It has accorded them some pecuniary support, comporting with the precarious condition of the finances of the republic, and demanded by their personal position, not by the value and the legality recognized in the losses sustained.
In the month of December of last year, the hospitality, to which mankind is entitled from governments, came near creating a difficulty in the republic. Cubans, established in the capital, having for their leader General Macéo, publicly offended the consul and flag of Spain. The consul, attributing this regrettable disorder to the complicity of our police, demanded therefor reparation of my government.
There was done under the circumstances, as regards the representative of this power, which is friendly to the republic, that which national dignity, the honor of my government, and its ardent desire to see maintained the good relations of Hayti with Spain, required. The difficulty created has been thus completely appeased and settled.
Towards the end of January of the present year my government had also to make satisfaction to Germany and Denmark, in consequence of an unfortunate incident occurring at Jacmel, under the previous administration.
Wrongs had been done to Mr. Daguin, a German subject, consul of Denmark, in the execution of a judgment rendered against him by the justice of the peace of Jacmel, recognized as incompetent by the previous government to pass judgment in case of a consul.
Mr. Daguin was arrested at the German consulate of Jacmel, and placed in prison upon the demand of a third party.
The representatives of Germany and of Denmark at Port-au-Prince demanded, respectively, in the name of their governments, reparation of that which they considered as forgetfulness of the immunities attaching to Mr. Daguin in his quality of consul of Denmark, and of the considerations due to the German consul and to his consulate at Jacmel.
My government in its wisdom could not fail to give satisfaction to Germany and to Denmark, especially in reconciling national honor with the legality of the double . complaint presented.
This other difficulty has been, also, regulated to the satisfaction of the parties.
The questions pending between the government of the republic and that of Great Britain, and which date back to the previous administration, have not as yet been settled, but the government has in nowise neglected that which lies in its power to reach this end by the best means possible.
The unfortunate affair of “St. Michel,” which has occasioned, with the loss of a government vessel, the tragic and painful death of numerous Haytians, with families, for the most part, depending on them for support, occupies the most serious attention of my government.
Taking this affair at the point at which negotiations, commenced at the time between the department of foreign affairs and the British legation at Port-au-Prince, had left it, my government has charged our consul of Hayti at Kingston to occupy himself with the preliminaries of a process which, perhaps debated even in England, will result in throwing light upon this deplorable catastrophe and cause the right to triumph.
The reclamation of Madame (widow) Joseph Maunder, a résumé of which reclamation was presented to the former legislature, has not yet been settled.
My government considers that this reclamation, by reason of its great importance and its excessive pretensions, solicits its greater and more serious attention. Having regard to the point of view in which the Government of Her Britannic Majesty regards it, a point of view contrary to our manner of seeing it, the arbitration of the court of [Page 643] cassation of France, would be able to settle it, we think, with all the impartiality which characterizes that high tribunal.
This proposition my government has lately made to the minister resident of Her Britannic Majesty at Port-au-Prince—and in regard thereto we await a definite reply.
The relations of Hayti with France were re-established upon normal footing, m consequence of the arrival here of M. the Count de Rochechouart. There remains on our part an equitable solution of the payment of our loan of 1875, to regain entirely the sympathies of the French Government. It is to this solution that you have lent me your patriotic and intelligent support in voting the settlement of this loan upon a more equitable basis in the extraordinary session of this year.
I am happy to inform you that the bondholders of this loan have accepted the settlement, as I have just been advised by the secretary of state of finances and foreign relations, at this moment upon a mission at Paris.
My government found itself confronted by the following quarters of the double debt of 1825 not paid at their maturity:
June 30, 1879, namely, 249,937.50 francs; September 30, 249,337.50 francs; total, 499,875.00. In adding to this sum the quarter of December 31, namely, 249,937.50 francs, my government had then to pay an arrearage of 749,812.50 francs, as well as the interest unpaid at 5 per cent. upon this sum total of 13,762.00 francs. It has been able by means of fortunate combinations and of the order introduced into the service of the finances of the country to pay this sum of 763,574.50 francs, besides the quarter of the 3.1st of March of this year, namely, 249,937.50 francs; in total, 1,013,512 francs.
My government in paying this sum of 1,013,512 francs has settled the arrearage of our double debt and brought this service up to date. It will continue to pay thereon also and with all possible regularity, all the remaining quarters, amounting up to 1883 to a balance of 3,641,549.98 francs, conformably to the exposition of 1870, and with the reserve which is made there.
Thus by the settlement of the loan of 1875 and by the punctuality made in the payment of the double debt, my government believes that it has shown the high value which it attaches to the maintenance and the development of the credit of the republic.
Several questions raised by the minister resident of the United States of America with the former government are still in litigation.
Some have been transferred to Washington; among others the protest of the Government of the Union against our law of the 23d of August, 1877, upon consular visas, which is supported or participated in by the governments of Great Britain, of Germany, and of France, and its complaints against our law of patents.
But it is hoped that with regard to ail these old affairs as well as to the subject of others which have been brought since to the knowledge of my government by the representative of the United States, the considerations which the Haytian Government has presented in defense of its rights will be duly appreciated.
My government will never cease to consider it an imperative duty to entertain the, best relations with the Government of the Dominican Republic.
Although a definitive government has not been able yet to succeed in that country to the administration of General Cesario Guillermo, my government gives to the provisional government, actually established at Santo Domingo, public testimonies of the interest which it takes in the maintenance of peace in the Dominican Republic, especially in assuring it of its firm purpose to maintain the strictest neutrality in the events which may there occur.
Upon the communication which has been lately made to us of the tendency of certain Dominican citizens to trouble in our territory the established order of affairs in the, Dominican Republic, we have notified such to whom we have accorded hospitality in misfortune to remain tranquil in order not to expose themselves to lose it. Already we have caused other Dominicans to be sent back to the interior who were found upon the frontiers and whose menaces were denounced as hostile to the peace of their country.
There only remains for my government to await the nomination of a definitive government at Santo Domingo, in order to seek again with it, your intelligence aiding, the best means fco establish fraternal friendship and the best relations of two brotherly peoples inhabiting the same territory upon the most solid and durable basis which is alone capable of contributing to the development of their mutual prosperity.
I ought not to pass over in silence a custom which it has been attempted for a long time to introduce in the administration of the country, namely, the taking from their proper jurisdiction of the judicial affairs in which foreigners find themselves interested, to place them upon diplomatic ground.
My government will not permit such custom to be established, absolutely contrary to the right of nations, and of which there is no instance among civilized countries; the consequence of this abnormal practice can never be other than to destroy the cordial relations which exist between Hayti and the friendly countries which are represented here.
My government cherishes the hope that upon this point it will always obtain the beneficent and sympathetic support of the governments of such countries.
[Page 644]Finally, I am able to say tbat our international relations are satisfactory.
On the 17th of November of last year, I gave notice of my election to divers governments having agents accredited to this republic. Almost all have already responded to this notification. On this occasion I would emphasi ze as a happy augury for the continuance of our good relations with the Government of the Republic of France, the recognition which the President of such republic made, hardly three weeks after my election to the first magistracy of the state, and before even the notification of my promotion had reached him.
The list of foreign consuls appointed in Hayti and that of Haytian consuls named in foreign ports, still enlarging itself, permits the hope of increase in our national commerce.
I have had the honor to receive through the distinguished kindness and exalted friendship of the chiefs of the republics of Liberia and Venezuela, the orders of “African redemption” and the “Bust of Bolivia,” which exist in those two countries.
Especially in recording here a solemn and intelligent testimony of my profound recognition of Presidents Gardner and Guzman Blanco for the grand distinction of which I have been the object on their part and that of their country in whose name they have acted, I believe it my duty to add that I have only accepted such decorations as marks of esteem and good relations shown to the republic in my person.
Such, gentlemen, is a succinct exposition of the situation of our foreign relations.
The chief of each department will give you, if you judge it necessary, all the information and present to you all the documents which you deem useful to inform you completely as to the lesser details, to facilitate your legitimate control in the adoption of measures which you think ought to be taken in order to advance these branches of the public service.
For my part I give you the patriotic assurance that nothing shall be neglected to extend more and more the good relations of the republic with the civilized countries of the one and the other hemisphere; for I am convinced that from constant contact of our fellow-citizens with our grand leaders upon the route of progress and civilization will result surely the solutions of the difficult problem, but not insoluble, proposed since our political emancipation, in relation to the existence of Hayti as a free and independent people, bringing to the family of nations its part, feeble as it maybe, of all that which contributes to the glory and to the wants of mankind.