Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard.
Port-au-Prince, Hayti, October 17, 1885. (Received Oct. 31.)
Sir: Reports received from Cape Haytien indicate since the arrival there of General Brenor Prophète, minister of war and marine, strong measures have been taken to find out those persons connected with the insurgent movement of the 11th ultimo. It appears that a person named Albaret Laroche, who was active in the late insurrection, was secreted on board of a French bark, the Panama, which was loading in the port of Cape Haytien. The authorities therefore asked permission of the French vice-consul to go on board of that vessel for the purpose of arresting the man. The vice-consul communicated with the legation of France in this city for instructions. In the mean time boats surrounded the Panama, and remained there day and night to prevent the man escaping. The French minister refused them permission to go on board. Consequently the authorities would not expedite the vessel, hoping they could prevail upon the French minister to give up the man. Finding eventually that he would not do so, they allowed the Panama to leave with the revolutionist on board.
Communicating these facts opens for me a channel of inquiry, and I would respectfully ask the view of the Department in such a case, viz, where a revolution has taken place and parties connected therewith seek refuge in an American vessel. A case of the kind I believe is without precedent here, but in a country like this, where insurrections are liable to spring up at any moment, I deem it worthy of attention to prepare for contingencies.
[Page 540]In asking advice with regard to a possibility of this kind, I do not lose sight of articles 39 and 41 of our treaty with Hayti, neither do I neglect the established rules of international law, but it must also be remembered that generally in these revolutionary movements sundry persons are killed, as happened in the affair at Cape Haytien. Under those circumstances, although it would be difficult to distinguish the perpetrator of the murder, it cannot be denied that any one of the revolutionists was liable to be the guilty party.
With the hope that I may receive a dispatch with reference to this question,
I have, &c.,