Mr. Terres to Mr. Hay.
Port au Prince, November 5, 1902.
Sir: I have to report that I received this morning a telegram from oar consular agent at Gonaives, reading as follows:
Political refugees claimed by Délegué Nord. Advise.
To which I replied:
Do not deliver.
And immediately I telegraphed the following to—
Livingston, Cape Haitian:
Gonaives political refugees claimed by Délégué Nord. Inform Cincinnati.
I called on Gen. Boisrond Canal, President of the Provisional Government, informed him of the telegram received and requested that he would use his influence with General Nord to prevent any violent measure being taken by him, as such an act on his part might cause serious trouble.
President Canal at once telegraphed to General Nord the information that he had received, and informed him that the Provisional Government would not assume the responsibility of such act.
Later, President Canal communicated to me the reply of General Nord, in which he states that he had no intention to take the refugees at the consulates by force, but that he only wished to have delivered up such as were accused of offenses against common law.
I will state that telegrams similar to that received at this legation were received by French, German, and Dominican legations; the cablegram to the former added that the presence of the cruiser D’Assas at Gonaives was urgent.
In a conference on the subject with Mr. Desprez, the French minister here, it was thought best that the D’Assas, which returned here on Monday morning from Kingston, Jamaica, where she had gone for coal, should remain here to protect the interests of all foreign residents of this city, on account of the very unsettled condition of affairs existing, and the liability of some disorder breaking out at any moment.
On my return from my visit to President Canal I found a cablegram from Cape Haiti, which reads as follows:
Cincinnati departed; Montgomery expected.
Livingston.
I have, etc.,