Mr. Durham to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of
the United States,
Port au
Prince, January 6, 1893.
(Received January 17.)
No. 143.]
Sir: Referring to my previous dispatches concerning
the case of Mr. Mevs, I have to inclose the accompanying note from the
minister of foreign relations. I regret that the pressure upon my time by
the routine work of the consulate-general prevents my inclosing translation.
In his note, the minister strongly protests against what seems to his
Government as irregular conduct, and informs me that the case will be taken
up by the new minister to Washington, who will sail immediately. He is
careful to insert in the body of his dispatch the statement that the
friendship for the country of Washington, Sumner, and John Brown, of which
Haiti has constantly given proofs, makes it the duty of his Government to
say that it could not in any circumstance have intention of “outraging the
United States of America.”
[Page 367]
Only two or three hours before, this new minister, Mr. Clément Haentjens, had
left me with the understanding that the matter would be talked over by
myself and the minister of foreign relations, or any other person whom the
President might name with authority. Mr. Haentjens was a member of Firmin’s
cabinet, and while I know his sentiments perfectly, I believe that his good
sense had overcome his prejudices and that he was acting in good faith. The
object of his visit must have been to get a better idea of our position, for
the prompt arrival of Mr. Lespinasse’s note shows that at the time of Mr.
Haentjen’s visit not only had the Hank movement of the Haitians been decided
upon, but also that the note itself must have been in the course of
preparation.
I of course promptly decided not to permit this to interfere with my
observing your instructions. I thought it expedient, however, to accept the
no intention disavowal as satisfactory, and to overlook their attempt to
have the Department take the matter out of my hands. I indicated my purpose
to maintain the firm attitude which I have assumed and to insist on my
return that proper reparation be made. I inclose a copy of my note.
The case is regarded not so especially American in character but as
representing all foreign interests in this Republic. The leading merchants
and financiers of this capital without regard to nationality feel that their
property and their liberty will be affected seriously if the United States
should take one step backward in this matter.
The consuls have shown the deepest interest unofficially, and I regret that
their utterances being entirely of a personal character can not be quoted in
an official dispatch.
I therefore, with great insistance, urge that by the 16th of this month the
commander of the U. S. S. Atlanta, now in these
waters, be instructed by telegraph to cooperate with me in enforcing my
request for reparation.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
143.—Translation.]
Mr. Lespinasse to
Mr. Durham.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Port au Prince, January 6,
1893.
Mr. Minister: I have reported to the council of
secretaries of state the official declaration which you made to his
excellency the President of Haiti and to me, on the 4th instant, at 4
o’clock in the afternoon, at the national palace, and I have laid before
them the note addressed by me to you on the 5th, together with your
despatch in reply to said note, bearing date of the same day.
My Government has seen, with the deepest regret, that you have been
instructed to lay aside the usual diplomatic forms, and its regret and
astonishment are the greater since it vainly seeks the circumstances
which have induced the Government of the United States of America thus
to abandon the usages of courtesy which are observed among nations,
whatever may be their rank and power.
My Government feels convinced that a frank explanation of the facts would
have been sufficient to dispel the misunderstandings which seem to
exist, and that it would have rendered it possible to reach a solution
in harmony with the dignity of the high parties, and this conviction is
an additional reason why it deplores the special forms observed in the
case now under consideration, in which redress is demanded of us,
without any written note having been sent to inform us why it is
demanded, or what is to be its nature.
The arrest and detention of Mr. Frederick Mevs, which took place in
pursuance of our laws, can in no wise explain the grave determination
reached in this case by
[Page 368]
the
Republic of the United States of America as to his trial; we can not
suppose that it is the intention of your Government to require that any
foreigner brought to trial here should necessarily be convicted.
My Government, Mr. Minister, sees nothing, moreover, in the course of the
department of state of foreign relations that should be considered
offensive by your legation. Your diplomatic notes, being written in the
English language, must be translated before they can be answered, and
the conduct of the various ministerial departments being quite distinct,
even they have but one acting head; the constant usage is for one of
said departments to address communications to another; thus it is that
explanations can not be furnished by the department of state of foreign
relations relative to a matter within the province of the department of
justice until an official request for information has been addressed to
the latter department. Such information was transmitted to your legation
as soon as it was received by the minister of foreign relations.
In brief, Mr. Minister, replying to the only expression which has been
written by you during the present negotiations, the Government does not
think that it has outraged the Republic of the United States of America
in the person of one of its citizens, and there is nothing in the
previous relations of the two republics that could explain such a mode
of proceeding on the part of my Government.
The sentiments of friendship which we have ever felt for the country of
Washington, Sumner, and John Brown render it the duty of my Government
to declare that it can never, under any circumstances, have intended to
outrage the Government of the United States of America.
This being the ca&e, Mr. Minister, and as my Government has in no
wise failed to fulfill the duties rendered obligatory upon it by the
friendly relations which have always existed between your Government and
it, it does not think that it owes any redress to the United States of
America and can not offer any, since no discussion has shown its
obligation to do so. Moreover, the instructions which you have received
do not permit you to appreciate, diplomatically, the declarations
contained in the present communication, and I therefore hasten to inform
you that Mr. Clement Haentjens, who has just been appointed by his
excellency the President of Haiti, in consequence of the lamented death
of Mr. Price, as our envoy extraordinary near your Government, is to
repair to his post without delay, his mission being to state to the
Washington Cabinet how greatly we have been surprised and pained at its
action in this matter, and to furnish the most frank explanations of the
incidents which have given rise to that action.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 143.]
Mr. Durham to Mr.
Lespinasse.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, January 6,
1893.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
note of to-day, in which you say:
“Les sentiments d’amitié que nous avons constainment éprouvés pour la
patrie des Washington, des Sumner, des John Brown font un devoir à mon
Gouvernment de déclarer qu’il n’a pas pu en aucune circonstance avoir
l’intention d’outrager le Gouvernment des Etats Unis d’Amérique.”
I welcome this declaration from you as well as the explanation that your
own Government has explained the conduct of the minister of foreign
relations to its own satisfaction, for it was far from the purpose of my
Government and this legation to make any personal accusations. I could
not with proper respect for my office consent to discuss the Mevs case
until such a statement had been made. I find it perfectly
satisfactory.
The matter of the lack of courtesy to my Government thus happily removed
from consideration, the difficulty is simplified; and I entertain the
hope that the friendship for the United States which inspired your
denial of intention to show a lack of courtesy for my Government may
prompt you to decide to arrange the settlement of the case of Mr. Mevs
itself.
If I seem to have ignored your statement, that you intend to send a
diplomat over the head of this legation to Washington to discuss the
matter at Washington, pardon me. You will agree that I can not receive
instructions except from Washington, and that I must, therefore,
continue to obey my orders until the new ones which your envoy may
secure from the Secretary of State will make my position more agreeable
to me personally.
[Page 369]
In the meantime I shall continue on the plan outlined to you in the
presence of His Excellency, absenting myself for a few days and
returning with the hope that the sense of justice of your Government
will prompt you to do what is right.
The Vice-Consul General, Dr. Terres, who joins me in expressions of
pleasure that the grave feature of the case has been removed, will
receive for me any communication you may desire to make, verbal or
written, during my absence.
Accept, etc.,
