Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.
Port au Prince, September 6, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that there is no change in the political situation since my last dispatch, No. 1146, of August 29. Here (Port au Prince) all remains quiet. The formation or organization of the new Senate is no nearer completion than it was when I last informed the Department upon this subject. Two sessions of the House of Delegates nave been held. At the first session nothing was done; at the second 3 Senators were elected, making 4 in all out of 39 members to be chosen. The Department can judge in what time, at this rate of progress, the members of the Senate will be elected and afterwards enter into a permanent organization in order to enter upon an election of the President. As far as one can judge such an election is as far off as it was on the 12th of May. Eacn day seems to add some new difficulties. As I have stated in former dispatches, the Provisional Government does not seem to be able to grasp the true situation of affairs, but allows all things to run their own course without direction from them. Neither of the two candidates resident here dares to take the aggressive, for fear of losing the support of the present Government, which they fear would go to their opponent, so each has to act on the defensive. Nothing can be done to bring about peace or an understanding between the sections until there is a unity of interest here and a loyal support on the part of all to sustain the present Government. The Chamber of Deputies, by their diliatory action, and the Government, through its weakness, do not seem to be aware of the danger which surrounds them. At any moment it may become most acute, causing sections in the south now loyal to the Government to take up arms against it.
In the north affairs are a little more lively. Two battles have been fought. General Jumeau seems to have regained some of his lost ground. A battle was fought at Limbé on September 1 and 2, at which place the Government troops were compelled to retire. The details we have not been able to secure, as the Provisional Government will not allow the papers to publish any reference to them. In the absence of such information the wildest rumors are current, which the masses accept as truth. We have been able to secure much of the information that the Government receives through the courtesy of the manager of the French cable company. Limbé, the place where the battle occurred, is very near the Cape. It is reported to-day that the Government troops have suffered another reverse at a place thirty-six hours’ march from here, called Mirebalais. We have not been able to secure any details.
One of the most exciting events of the week was the action of Admiral Killick in sending an armed crew to a German vessel, searching her, and taking from her 550 rifles and a quantity of ammunition that had been sent by the Provisional Government to General Alexis at the Cape. All look upon it as a high-handed proceeding, but Killick is capable of giving such surprises. Since this has occurred the Provisional Government has issued another decree styling Killick a “pirate,” a copy of which has been sent to each member of the diplomatic corps, and they have also cabled the same to their ministers at the several capitals in Europe and America with instructions to call the attention [Page 646] of the Governments to which they are accredited to these acts. Killick thus far has not troubled the property of neutrals. He claims that which he has seized is the property of the Provisional Government, and is therefore contraband of war; that he has the right to take it whenever he may find it—peaceably, if he can, forcibly, if he must.
As soon as the news reached here, the German chargé d’ affaires immediately cabled a long dispatch to his Government. Equally long replies were returned, one for the chargé, the other for the commander of the German naval vessel Panther, which arrived to-day.
A rumor is current that the commander has been instructed to seek Killick, demand from him reparation for searching a German vessel, and for him to surrender the arms taken from her; if he refuses, to capture him. I do not vouch for how true it is. It will be a hard matter for Killick to return either firearms or ammunition, as he yesterday, it is said, landed them at Gonaives. All are waiting to see what action will be taken. It is stated that the Panther will be stationed at Gonaives until order is reestablished.
Another important event occurred. The Paloma, which arrived to-day, brings to Mr. Firmin $2,000,000 paper money, printed for him in New York; 800,000 rounds of ammunition, and a quantity of firearms. The Government had quietly made preparation to seize these goods when the vessel reached this place. According to schedule, this was her first port after leaving New York, but instead of coming here she steamed directly for Gonaives, delivering to Mr. Firmin money, arms, and ammunition. The arrival of this vessel has elated the Firm-mists and correspondingly depressed those in the Government circles. This vessel was also to have brought 250 tons of coal for Killick, but this was prevented through the action of the Haitian consul at New York. The ammunition, lam informed, was packed in flour consigned as such, while the arms came in under hardware.
Mr. Firmin has now all the sinews of war that he needs—money to pay his soldiers, which he will compel all to accept; arms, ammunition, and provisions for the same. In addition to this a gunboat (the Crête), as an auxiliary force to assist him in all his future operations. The present consignment, I am informed, was sold to Mr. Firmin by the ex-President of Santo Domingo, Mr. J. Jimenes, and was consigned to one Sanchez, a merchant at Gonaives. Summing up the events of the week, the advantages seem to be all on the side of Mr. Firmin, as he has completely outwitted the Provisional Government. As matters stand now, no one can tell when this will end.
Mr. Firmin has also seized all the custom receipts at the ports of Gonaives, St. Marc, and Port de Paix. The revenues from these, as well as other ports, have been set aside to meet the bonded obligations of the Government as they fell due. A large proportion of these bonds is in the hands of the French and German bankers and the merchants of those countries. These people are deeply concerned in regard to anything that affects this class of Haitian securities. Our merchants are also concerned, but to a lesser degree. The former merchants (French and German) have been pressing upon their legations the importance of landing troops and taking full charge of both banks and and custom-houses at the places named above, particularly at Gonaïves. As soon as this information reached me, I called upon the German chargé d’affaires, Mr. Franksen, and requested to know from him if such a report was true of his intention to land troops and seize the [Page 647] custom-house at Gonaives. He informed me that such was not his intention or that of his Government, and desired that I would make known his statement to my Government. I promised him I would do so.
The D’Assas with Hon. P. Desprez and wife, left on September 1 for Gonaives, from there to the Cape, and thence to Santiago, Cuba. At the latter place she will coal, providing there is coal there; if not, she will go to Kingston, returning here on the 8th.
A body of troops numbering 900 volunteers was to leave to-night or early in the morning for Mirebalais, where it is said the advance guard of Mr. Firmin’s has reached.
The Government has secured another loan from the syndicate, (national bank and certain bankers) amounting to $500,000, on the most favorable terms to the syndicate, the Government receiving paper and returning gold, exchange at 130 per cent, rate of interest 1 per cent per month.
The coming week bids fair to be an eventful one, but on which side victory will rest the future alone can foretell.
I inclose certain papers bearing upon the subject-matter of this dispatch.
I have, etc.,