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. 670.
Mr. Rives to Mr. Thompson.

Department of State,
Washington, November 2, 1888.

No. 130.]

Sir: Mr. Stanislas Goutier, the consul of the United States at Cape Haytien, reports to the Department a letter^* addressed by him to you on the 8th ultimo, whereby he appears to concur in and express the suggestion of the consular body at Cape Haytien that Senator Légitime should withdraw his candidacy for the Presidency of Hayti in the interest of peace. The Department, while recognizing the good motives which induced Mr. Goutier to join in this proceeding, has felt called upon to rebuke his action, as at variance alike with the policy of this Government and the sound principles of international comity, which forbid any interference of its representatives, however remotely, with the free exercise of sovereign rights by foreign communities in the control of their domestic affairs. A copy of the instruction sent to Mr. Goutier is herewith inclosed for your information.

I am, etc.,

G. L. Rives,
Acting Secretary.

[Inclosure in No. 130.]

Mr. Rives to Mr. Goutier.

Department of State,
Washington, November 1, 1888.

No. 352.]

Sir: Your dispatches numbered 910, 912, 913, and 914, bearing the respective dates of October 4, 8, 13, and 15, 1888, have been received.

The interesting and effective recital they give of the recent revolutionary occurrences at Cape Haytien and the movement against the capital is commended.

The Department can not, however, so commend your reported letter of October 8 to Mr. Thompson, in which, referring to the excited feelings of the inhabitants of northern Hayti and their avowed purpose to avenge the death of General Thélémaque, you say:

“In view of this impending fratricidal war and its disastrous result, the consuls here are of opinion that the diplomatic and consular corps at Port au Prince might, by using such means as they deem proper, by appealing to the patriotism of the members of the provisional government or the existing authorities, induce them to have General Légitime’s name withdrawn from the list of candidates for the Presidency, being that alone can save Hayti from all the horrors of civil war, with its direful consequences.”

Fully recognizing the humane and honest motives which inspired you in thus addressing the United States minister at the Haytian capital, this Government can not lend the approbation of silence to the extraordinary suggestion of interference with the free exercise of the franchise by the Haytian people which is involved in the recommendation you make on behalf of your consular associates and in your own name. This Department is clearly and decidedly of the opinion that the expression of individual views by any representative of the United States in regard to a pending election by the” citizens of the country to which he is accredited is a gross impropriety, which in a proper case entirely warrants his recall or dismissal from his post. In the present instance the apparent urgency of the case and your laudable desiro to prevent bloodshed are sufficient to relieve you from any severer mark of the President’s displeasure than the course hereby conveyed. Indeed, lam quite sure that had you been prompted less by the instant impulses of humanity and the desire to avert imminent disaster, reflection would have led you to withhold assent from the proposal of your colleagues.

I am, etc.,

G. L. Rives,
Acting Secretary.

1. See inclosure to Document No. 669, ante, p. 937.