Mr. Powell to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti, April
5, 1899.
No. 545.]
Sir: I transmit to the Department under this
inclosure the correspondence that has lately passed between the foreign
office of the Haitian Government and the legation upon an attempt on the
part of the Haitian authorities to arrest one of the employees of Dr. J.
B. Terres, the vice-consul-general.
The correspondence will give the history of the case and my action in the
matter. I have since had an interview with the secretary of foreign
affairs ad interim, Hon. Stephan Lafontant, and believe the incident to
be happily closed without friction, the Haitian secretary of foreign
affairs stating the unpleasant incident arose from a misinterpretation
of orders on the part of subordinate officials; that they were not
authorized to make such arrest or to invade the domicile of our
vice-consul-general.
The Department will favor me to pass upon my action.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Terres to
Mr. Powell.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
March 30, 1899.
No. 309.]
My Dear Minister: On the afternoon of the
29th, when I arrived at my residence, I found at the entrance and
also on the premises some fifteen or twenty Haitian soldiers, who,
however, withdrew before I had time to reach the gate. I inquired of
one of my domestics what was their mission. He replied that they had
come with an order to arrest two men I had employed on the
premises.
The following morning, in coming from my bath, I found two Haitian
generals stationed on the gallery of my house. I asked them what was
their mission. They informed me that they had an order to arrest two
Spaniards that I had in my employment. I demanded who had given them
such orders. They replied that it was an order from the minister of
the interior. I told them that I did not admit of any right on his
part to invade my premises with an armed force under any pretext
whatever, and that if he desired any information from me on any
matter, to write to me officially and I would answer him.
Mr. Minister, I most solemnly protest against any such action on the
part of the Haitian Government, and I lay these facts before you
hoping that you will take such steps as you may deem necessary to
prevent a like occurrence.
I am, etc.,
[Page 375]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Terres to
Mr. Powell.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
April 1,
1899.
Sir: On the afternoon of the 30th ultimo I
received from the minister of the interior the inclosed
communication, which I transmit to you with my reply to same.
Respectfully, etc.,
[Subinclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Auguste to
Mr. Terres.
Private Office of the Secretary of State of the
Interior,
Port au
Prince, March 30,
1899.
Mr. the Vice-Consul: On the request of the
chargé d’affaires of the Dominican Republic addressed to me, I would
be greatly pleased if you would have delivered Mr. Marcon Aroche
(Alvarez) to the chief of the post of Carrefour. Mr. Marcon Aroche,
alias Alvarez, works at present in the tobacco plantation that
belongs to you and which you have established in that quarter.
Please accept, etc.,
[Subinclosure.]
Mr. Terres to
Mr. Auguste.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
March 31,
1899.
Sir: I have your favor of March 30. I have
carefully noted the statement you have made therein. In reply to
your communication I beg to inform you that I have brought this
matter to the attention of our minister, who will take such steps as
he may deem necessary to prevent our homes being invaded in
future.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. Lafontant.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
March 30,
1899.
Sir: Dr. J. B. Terres, the United States
vice-consul-general, informs me this morning that his premises were
entered yesterday upon an order from your honorable colleague, the
Hon. T. Auguste, secretary of interior, for the purpose of arresting
some of his employees, who were Cubans.
I desire to call your immediate attention to this matter, that in
entering upon the premises of accredited officers of the United
States, located in this Republic, is a grave infraction of
international law, a recurrence of which will be very apt to lead to
serious complications. I also desire to inform you that all Cubans
resident in this Republic are under the protection of the United
States while in the peaceful performance of their work, and are not
to be molested.
You will greatly favor me by calling the attention of your honorable
colleague, the Hon. Tancrede Auguste, to this matter, that your
Government has no right to enter upon the premises of United States
consular officers with either its military or its constabulary
force.
Accept, etc.,
[Page 376]
[Inclosure
4.—Translation.]
Mr. Lafontant
to Mr. Powell.
Department of State for Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
March 31,
1899.
Mr. Minister: I hasten to acknowledge
reception of your important communication of yesterday’s date, which
I immediately transmitted to the department of interior to obtain
the necessary information.
However, and before even those informations, I can give you the
assurance that it can never have entered in the intention of my
colleague, Mr. the Secretary of State of the Interior, to give
orders that may be of the nature to bring a violation of
international laws and the violation of the dwelling of an
accredited agent of the United States.
If a like circumstance has been able to take place, I remain
convinced that it can only have been in consequence of badly
interpreted instructions.
I take note that the Cubans residing in the Republic are under the
protection of the Government of the United States of America, and I
beg you to accept, Mr. Minister, the renewed assurance of my high
consideration, etc.,
