Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I

No. 647.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Thompson.

Department of State,
Washington, August 2, 1888.

No. 119.]

Sir: Your No. 196, of the 21st ultimo, reporting the present condition of affairs at Port au Prince and repeating your request for the presence there of a United States war vessel, has been received.

I inclosed copies of your former dispatches making this request to the Navy Department, and asked whether it would be practicable to carry out your suggestion. I am just informed by that Department, in reply, that it is very reluctant to order a ship of war to Port au Prince during the sickly season unless some absolute necessity requires it, such as an armed uprising or immediate apprehension thereof, which does not appear to be the case at the present moment.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.