By publications of this kind you will observe already a foundation for the
fears I expressed in my former dispatch of the compromising action displayed
by my colleague, which may tend to make the diplomatic body as a whole lose
prestige.
As dean of the diplomatic body, although not acting in concord with all the
others, this must cast a certain amount of odium on the rest, and in such a
country as Hayti, where hatred once enters into the hearts of the people,
you can not tell how far they may go to demonstrate it. This matter is
occupying the serious attention of all foreigners.
[Inclosure in No.
214.—Translation.]
To-day, the 6th of October, 1888, at 11 o’clock in the morning, in the
presence of Messrs. Blanchard Celestin, Normil Barbos, and Nemours
Débrosse, living and residing at Gonaïves, present in the office of the
arrondissement of that city, the citizen Jean Baptiste Nelson Desroches
met Sublieutenant Assistant Instructor Navarès Klain, of the Fourth
Regiment of Artillery, who was in Port au Prince in the army of
[Page 932]
General Séide Thélémaque. Mr.
Desroches asked Lieut. Navarès Klain “What took place between you and
the minister of France, the Comte de Sesmaisons?”
Lieut. Navarès Klain answered in the presence of all those present:
General Jean Jumeau came in the office of the arrondissement of Port au
Prince, where I was, and said to me, “There are some foreigners who are
coming in to talk with you.” Half an hour later I saw the Comte de
Sesmaisons, Mr. Solon Menos, and several others come in. General Hérard
Laforest was there.
General Jean Jumeau declared in my presence that General Séide had
distributed ammunition to the soldiers in the afternoon and had himself
led-the Thirtieth Regiment to attack the palace. I denied that assertion
in the presence of General Jean Jumeau.
For my part, when I was questioned by those gentlemen, I said to General
Jean Jumeau himself that I found it incomprehensible that General Séide
could have caused a distribution of ammunition to the soldiers without
my knowing it, and that I could appeal to him that I never made a step
away from General Séide since his arrival at Port au Prince, and that if
General Séide had made this distribution of ammunition I would have
received my share, and that what proved that this assertion was false
was that I received none.
General Jean Jumeau declared, speaking to the Comte de Sesmaisons
personally, that it was General Séide who urged the Thirtieth Regiment
to give the first assault on the palace. I declared such an assertion to
be a lie in his face.
Some minutes after, General Jean Jumeau arose and called the Comte de
Sesmaisons by a sign, and told him to call me in order to talk with
me.
The Comte de Sesmaisons and General Jean Jumeau were coming back to their
seats when the Comte de Sesmaisons patted me on the shoulder and led me
to a corner where he said to me:
“According to what General Jean Jumeau has told me you are a young man
who can furnish us with good information, but I am speaking to you
strictly in private. I offer you $1,000, $500 in American gold and the
rest in silver and paper money, for your expenses.” I answered to the
Comte de Sesmaisons that I could not do that. Then he said that this was
for the purpose of my writing with my own hand a declaration tending to
show that it was General Séide Thélémaque himself who had distributed
ammunition and ordered to attack the palace, and furthermore that he
left me to fix the amount. I wanted to write that declaration with my
own hand.
Being unable to obtain anything from me he withdrew and joined his
companions.
After this declaration the present deposition was drawn up and signed by
the witnesses, Mr. Desroches and the Sublieutenant Navarès Klain, the
day, month, and year above, to serve as need may be.
- Navarès Klain.
- J. B. N. Desroches.
- Normil Barbos.
- B. Cèlestin.
- N. Débrosse.
