File No. 838.00/1205.
Chargé Davis to the Secretary of State.
Port au Prince, June 23, 1915.
Sir: Confirming my cablegram of June 20 and previous relevant messages regarding the revolutionary situation in the North, I have the honor to report that after some days of desultory fighting just outside of Cape Haitien, the Government troops on June 19 surprised the forts protecting the town, which were held by the revolutionists, and shortly afterwards entered Cape Haitien. The rebel army, preceded by many women and children, retreated in good order and it is thought will continue the revolution.
During several days prior to the taking of Cape Haitien, the French Minister here received a number of telegrams from his Consular Agent at Cape Haitien expressing anxiety for the safety of the refugees in the Consulate, and also fear of pillage should the revolutionists be compelled to give up the city. As this Legation was in daily communication with the American Consul there, and knowing that the French Agent was having his first experience with a revolution, I felt confident that should there be any real cause for anxiety I would be advised thereof directly by Mr. Livingston, and I awaited some expression of concern from him before reporting the situation as grave to the Department.
The French Minister, however, deemed the situation sufficiently acute to warrant a request that a ship be sent if possible, and on the morning of the 18th the Descartes entered the harbor here, sailing that afternoon for Cape Haitien where sailors were at once landed and at the time of this writing still maintain a guard at the French Consulate, the bank and bishopric.
The success of the Government up to this time has been very largely due to the fact that the arrival of a part of the new issue of paper money, voted by the Theodore Government last December, has given the Government funds for rationing and paying the army, while the revolutionists have practically no financial backing at all.
Just how much of this paper money has already been issued it is impossible to say, but as the whole issue is 8,000,000 gourdes, and as the Government since the taking of the Treasury from the Bank has converted all pledged and unpledged duties to its own uses, it would seem that it will be sometime in the future before a lack of money will hamper operations against the revolutionists.
Inasmuch as the overthrow of both the Zamor and Theodore Governments was almost directly attributable to lack of money, it would seem that the present Government has an excellent chance of putting down the revolution, or, in any case, of maintaining itself in power for some time to come.
Aside from the continued seizing of men and forcing them into the army, no effects of the revolution are visible at Port au Prince.
I have [etc.],