Mr. Adee to Mr.
Powell.
Department of State,
Washington, August 2,
1902.
No. 526.]
Sir: I inclose for your information copies of
two letters from the Secretary of the Navy forwarding” copies of letters
from the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Marietta, reporting concerning the condition of affairs at
Cape Haitien and Fort de Paix.
I am, etc.,
Alvey A. Adee,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Taylor to
Mr. Hay.
Navy Department,
Washington, July 29,
1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information a copy of a letter from the commanding officer of the U.
S. S. Marietta, dated the 9th instant,
reporting a visit to Port de Paix, Haiti.
I have, etc.,
H. C. Taylor, Acting Secretary.
[Subinclosure.]
Commander Rodgers to the Secretary of the
Navy.
U.
S. S. Marietta,
Cape
Haitien, July 9,
1902.
Sir: 1. In obedience to the Department’s
cablegram received on board this vessel on the 3d instant, directing
me to visit Port de Paix, Haiti, for a few hours, when convenient, I
have the honor to report that at 5 a.m. to-day the Marietta left Cape Haitien and proceeded to Port de Paix.
Finding the anchorage at the latter place rather cramped, I did not
anchor, but remained off the port for about three hours, during
which time the consular agent, Mr. Carl Abegg, came on board and
made the usual visit and reported everything quiet at Port de Paix.
As the consular agent informed me that the only official to call on
was sick, I did not make any visit on shore.
2. Owing to the fact that we are some distance from a coaling port, I
considered it advisable to return to Cape Haitien to-day in order to
save coal, which I did, arriving at Cape Haitien at 6 p.m.
Very respectfully,
John A. Rodgers,
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Commanding.
[Page 621]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Taylor to
Mr. Hay.
Navy Department, July 29, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith,
for your information, a copy of a letter received from the
commanding officer of the U. S. S. Marietta,
dated the 13th instant, reporting on the condition of affairs at
Cape Haitien, Haiti.
I have etc.,
H. C. Taylor, Acting Secretary.
[Subinclosure.]
Commander Rodgers to the Secretary of the
Navy.
U.
S. S. Marietta, Haitien,
Haiti, July 13,
1902.
Sir: 1. In continuance of my report of the
5th instant, relative to the condition of affairs at this port, I
have the honor to report that I have been informed by the United
States consul that none of the persons who took refuge at the
consulate during the recent disturbance are charged with any crime,
but the offense, if any, is in each case a political one; that they
came to the consulate without any invitation on his part, and as he
thought their lives in danger he permitted them to remain; he
requested the authorities to permit them to embark for some other
Haitien port, which request was not granted, and a guard was placed
by the Haitien authorities near the consulate to prevent the escape
of the refugees.
2. Considering the disturbed condition of the country it appeared
possible that some unlawful act against the refugees at the
consulate might be committed by some unauthorized person or persons,
and on the 7th instant I, in company with the United States consul,
and at the request of the consul, made a visit to Gen. Nord Alexis,
minister of war, minister of marine, and commander of the Haitien
forces at Cape Haitien, and I informed the general that, in my
opinion, it was very desirable that the refugees in the consulate
should be permitted to embark for some other port; he said he had
already received instructions to that effect from the provisional
government, and that afternoon they were permitted to leave the
consulate under guard and go on board a steamer bound for St.
Thomas. One refugee, however, remained at the consulate, as he
expected to be permitted to return to his residence in Cape Haitien
in a day or two.
3. Foreigners are, and will continue to be, uneasy until the result
of the election is determined, which will probably not be done for
two or three weeks.
Very respectfully,
John A. Rodgers,
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Commanding.
