No. 352.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Port-au-Prince, April 13, 1883.
(Received April 30.)
No. 543.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit as herewith
inclosed the correspondence passing between the Haytian Government and this
legation in regard to the bombardment of Miragoâne.
The dispatch of Mr. Damier, a copy of which, with translation, is
transmitted, announces that, after a notice of twenty-four hours accorded to
the insurgents there assembled to surrender, the city of Miragoâne will be
bombarded with all the rigors of military law; that the President, having
taken all the precautions to spare the country new evils, will leave the
consequences thereof to whom it may concern; that notice of the blockade of
the port has already been given; that in his care to protect foreign
interests located in this country the President has directed the secretary
to give notice of the ultimatum addressed to the insurgents, in order that
our citizens may take the usual precautions in such case; that such citizens
be made to quit the port with their ships, their proximity to the wharf
rendering their situation dangerous; that orders have been given the
commandant of the Haytian fleet to render assistance in such behalf,
notwithstanding the blockade; and that after said notice all risks will be
taken by those exposing themselves.
Then the secretary takes occasion to announce that shots have been fired from
foreign vessels in the harbor of Miragoâne at the troops of the Haytian
Government, and he concludes by stating that a steamer of the Government
leaves the port of Port-au-Prince in the evening, and that the captain has
been ordered to carry any packages addressed to our citizens or agents at
Miragoâne.
My dispatch dated the 4th instant, a copy of which is herewith transmitted,
while reserving all rights which may pertain to any Citizen of the United
States being or residing at Miragoâne under the circumstances, acknowledges
the receipt of the dispatch of Mr. Damier.
[Page 581]
Further, it is denied in my dispatch that any shots have been fired from any
American vessel in the harbor of Miragoâne at the troops of? the Haytian
Government.
It will be perceived I did not receive Mr. Dander’s dispatch till 12 o’clock
at night, too late, if I had been disposed to do so, to take any special
action in the premises, and too late for the steamer of the Government to
deliver packages addressed to our citizens or agents in Miragoâne.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
548.—Translation.]
Mr. Damier to Mr.
Langston.
Department of State of Foreign Relations,
Port-au-Prince, April 3, 1883.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform you
that a truce of twenty-four hours has been accorded to the insurgents
who occupy Miragoâne to make their submission and surrender the city to
the legitimate authority. At the expiration of this truce bombardment
shall be proceeded with in all the rigors of military law.
The Government, having done all that its duty requires to spare to the
country new misfortunes, leaves to the responsibility of whom it may
concern the disastrous consequences of the painful necessity to which a
culpable obstinacy reduces it.
Already you have been notified of the blockade of this port.
In his solicitude to protect foreign interests established in this
country, His Excellency the President of Hayti has ordered me to advise
you of the ultimatum addressed to the insurgents, in order that you may
take, in favor of your citizens and their ships, the precautions usual
in such cases.
You will, then, Mr. Minister, in the twenty-four hours’ truce accorded in
the ultimatum, cause your ships to quit the port, their proximity to the
wharf rendering their situation particularly dangerous.
Orders shall be given in consequence to the commandant of our fleet to
let them pass, notwithstanding the declaration of blockade. At the
expiration of the truce, those ships which obstinately remain at the
wharf will encounter all the risks of war, and the Government, by such
flagrant violation of international regulations, will consider itself
completely relieved from all responsibility for any damage to which
those contravening should voluntarily expose themselves.
I take advantage of this occasion to inform you, Mr. Minister, that shots
have been fired from foreign vessels in the harbor of Miragoâne against
our troops. I need not N impress upon you the gravity of this
occurrence.
A Government vessel leaves this evening. The commandant has orders to
place himself at your service and take charge of any packages which you
may have to address to your citizens and agents.
Accept, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 543.]
Mr. Langston to Mr.
Damier.
Legation of the United States,
Port-au-Prince, April 4,
1883.
Sir: While reserving all rights which may
pertain, under the circumstances, to any citizen of the United States
being or residing in Miragoâne, I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, at 12 o’clock last night, of your dispatch dated the 3d
instant, in which you announce the purpose of your Government to bombard
the city of Miragoâne after a notice of twenty-four hours to the
insurgents there assembled.
As at present advised, Mr. Minister, I am of the opinion that no shooting
as indicated by you has taken place against the troops of the Government
of Hayti from any American vessels lying in the harbor of Miragoâne.
I am, &c.,
