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. 662.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Thompson.
Washington, September 24, 1888.
Sir: I inclose for your information copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, inclosing a report made by Commander Chester, of the Galena, on Haytian matters; also a copy of my reply to Secretary Whitney’s letter.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Whitney to Mr. Bayard.
Washington, September 19, 1888.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for the information of the Department of State, a copy of a dispatch, dated the 10th instant, from Commander C. M. Chester, commanding the U. S. S. Galena, reporting the result of his recent visit to Port au Prince.
Very respectfully,
Commander Chester to Mr. Whitney.
At sea, malting passage to New York, September 18, 1888.
Sir: I have the honor to report the result of the recent cruise of the Galena to Hayti, in pursuance of the instructions from the rear-admiral commanding naval forces, North Atlantic Station, of August 17 ultimo, as follows:
The Galena left Norfolk August 25 and arrived at Port au Prince the 31st ultimo. I immediately put myself in communication with the United States consul-general and minister resident at this port, Mr. J. E. W. Thompson, and through him and other sources learned the condition of affairs on the island. Although the State Department has been given quite a complete record of the disturbances which have recently occurred at Port au Prince, I believe a brief history of them will not be inappropriate for the files of the Navy Department, and therefore present it.
It appears that the late President Salomon through various causes began to lose the power so long and intelligently held by him some time before the disturbance of May 24 ultimo. This rebellion being quelled and the two principal instigators banished (Légitime and Manigat), quiet reigned for some time. On July 4 ultimo a fire broke out in the city of Port au Prince, evidently incendiary in character, and the instigation of it charged by many to the President. Much damage being done, the feeling of rebellion was agumented and it was soon apparent that a crisis was imminent. The President about this time, foreseeing the result, sent for the American minister, who appears to have been on intimate terms with his excellency, told him his fears, and urged him to send for two men-of-war. The result was a cablegram to the State Department, Washington, asking for vessels and stating “situation critical.” H. B. M. S. Canada and Wrangler, as well as two French men-of-war (the Bisson and Du Couedic), were in port at this time, but the President evidently preferred to rely on the friendship of the United States Government in this emergency. The climax was hastended by reported disturbances in the north, as well as a growing disaffection among the troops of General Hérard Laforest, commanding the arrondissement of Port au Prince.
The representatives of foreign governments were evidently prepared for the decision made known to them by the President of his intention to leave the country. A passage was offered him by the captain of H. B. M. steamer Canada, and on the morning of the 10th August he quitely left the palace in company with the several diplomatic and consular representatives and was escorted by General Laforest to the shore and embarked on the Canada. I learned his departure was unmolested and occurred with the knowledge of the troops through which he passed. Owing to want of quarters, the President was removed to the British steamer Atlas, then lying disabled in the port, until the final departure the morning of the 14th. The Canada arrived at Santiago the 15th, with the ex-President on board.
When the condition of affairs was made known, Boisrond Canal, an ex-President of the Republic, quietly took charge of the reins of government, his authority being recognized by common consent. Ex-Senator Légitime was recalled from Jamaica, whither he had been banished by Salomon, and put in nomination for the Presidency by his constituency of the southern portion of the island.
As far as I can learn the only real danger to life or property occurred during the “feu de joie” of the troops on the landing of this exile. Then a grand salute took place from all arms. There being no blank cartridges for the muskets, fixed ammunition was used for an indefinite period, the firing generally taking place in the air. The result can be well imagined. The smallest estimate, I believe, was five killed and twenty-five wounded. Even the men-of-war in the harbor came in for their share of the danger, several shots having struck their decks.
In the mean time a strong rival candidate presented himself for the Presidency in General Séide Thélémaque, the commander of the Army of the North. With his corps of about 8,000 men he marched to Port au Prince and there urged his claims.
The various interests, however, were quickly harmonized into a scheme for a provisional government representing the five districts of the island, with ex-President Canal and M. C. Archin at large.
The seven members were arranged in the following order: B. Canal, President provisional government; S. Thélémaque, war and marine; C. Archin, interior; S. U. St. Arm and, finance and commerce; F. D. Légitime, foreign relations and worship; E. Claude, justice and public instruction; General Hyppolite, agriculture and police.
The portfolio slate was published on Monday, the 3d instant, and, through the American minister, I made arrangements to pay my respects to the provisional President. On the 5th instant I was accorded an interview, and, with three other officers [Page 923] of the Galena and the American minister, was received with marked respect by the President and cabinet assembled. The President referred to the pleasant relations which had existed between his Government and that of the United States, and hoped for their continuance. He stated that, owing to maladministration, it became necessary to depose the ex-President, but it had been done quietly and without bloodshed; that the question of a new President and a change in the constitution had been submitted to the people, and an election would take place on October 10; that in the mean time everything was quiet in the Republic, and, he felt assured, would remain so. In reciprocating the kindly sentiments expressed for the United States, I remarked I believed I expressed the sentiments of my Government in congratulating the people of Hayti on the fact that such an important event had occurred without loss of life.
It is believed that had the Galena been in the harbor on the 10th of August a request would have been made me to transport the ex-President to Cuba; otherwise than this I doubt if much good would have resulted from her presence. Of course the moral effect of a man-of-war at such times is always advantageous.
The abdication seems to have been a quiet affair, and foreigners had little to fear from any quarter. In fact great deference has been shown foreigners, and I learned of no American citizen whose interests had been seriously threatened.
I was told by the commander of H. B. M. steamer Ready that the British and French senior naval officers, in consultation with the diplomats, had decided that only in an extreme emergency should men be landed from their vessels of war, and only then with the smallest force necessary to protect the legations. I am convinced this was a wise policy and a necessary one, sanitarily considered, and I should probably have favored it. The respect for the legations, however, was marked and there appeared no necessity for even this force.
Some uneasiness existed in Port au Prince after the arrival of General Thélémaque with his army, but time and his strong pronunciamento to secure the Presidency by peaceful measures or not at all soon made matters as quiet as they ordinarily are here.
A call for the election of delegates to a national convention was made for the 17th of September. The convention is to meet on October 10 for the election of the President and revision of the constitution. At this latter date it might seem advisable for the United States to be represented by a man-of-war, hut I believe that a resort to arms would he such an unpopular move as to prevent trouble at any time, until the history of this island should take its natural course and repeat itself.
Concluding, from the facts presented above, that the proper interpretation of my instructions required me to return north, I left Port au Prince on September 5 for New York, stopping at Port Royal, Jamaica, for coal, from which place we took our departure on the 8th.
The following vessels were in Port au Prince on the 5th: H. B. M. S. Wrangler, Spanish gun-boat Sanchez Barca and Haytian gun-boats Dessalines and Toussaint.
Very respectfully, etc.,
Commander, U. S. Navg, Commanding Galena.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Whitney.
Washington, September 24, 1888.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, inclosing a report concerning Haytian affairs, made by Commander Chester, of the Galena.
This Department is disposed to concur in the suggestion that it may be advisable for the United States to be represented at Port au Prince by a man-of-war on the occasion of the meeting of the constituent assembly October 10, if the exigencies of the naval service will permit this to be done.
I have, etc.,