Mr. Thompson to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Port au Prince,
Hayti, August 29, 1889.
(Received Sept. 17.)
No. 307.]
Sir: Monday morning, the 19th instant, at 4
o’clock, the forces of General Hyppolite, under command of General Nord
Alexis, attacked La Coupe; the battle lasted long into the day, and during
the night [Page 498] the minister of the
interior of Légitime, Mr. Maximilien Momplaisir, evacuated La Coupe, leaving
the northerners masters of the situation.
Early on the morning of Tuesday I received notice of a convocation of the
diplomatic body from the French minister.
At 10 o’clock the different foreign representatives met at the French
legation, when we were requested to go to the palace and have the meeting in
the presence of General Légitime. When at the palace Légitime said that he
had determined to withdraw from the Presidency, and would like the
diplomatic and consular body to intervene for the preservation of peace and
order. The minister of France, Mr. Sesmaisons, then said that he believed
that I was the only man capable of bringing matters to a peaceful
termination, now that Port au Prince was completely surrounded by the
protesting faction, which included the entire population of Hayti with the
exception of this city. In brief, I accepted on condition that I could have
full power to treat with General Hyppolite; this was agreed to. Copy of this
power and its inclosure, with translations, are herewith transmitted. I then
invited the Spanish consul to accompany me, as reported in my No. 306. As it
was supposed that the troops of General Nord were then marching down from La
Coupe on the city, Mr. Sesmaisons asked me if I would undertake the
dangerous mission of going to La Coupe first, in order to have them arrest
their progress. This I also accepted, and, accompanied by Mr. Garrido,
consul of Spain, started for La Coupe, but the firing at us from the
outposts was so rapid that when we reached the foot of the Fort Repoussé we
were forced to return. We learned later that they had been decoyed so often
was the reason the white flag was not respected.
Tuesday evening we left Port au Prince on the steamer Grande Rivière direct for St. Marc, where we arrived at 3 o’clock,
a. m., Wednesday. Hyppolite’s man-of-war L’Artibonite
was in the harbor and hailed us. On learning that I was there Commander
Killick immediately came on board and conducted us on shore. General
Hyppolite left his bed to receive us, and when the report of the object of
our mission spread throughout the town, a band of music paraded through the
streets; there was dancing and singing in the streets, and every other
manner employed to show rejoicing that the civil war was about to end. I
sent a special letter to Admiral Gherardi, who was at Gonaïves, telling him
my mission, and asking him to repair immediately to Port au Prince.
We returned to this city and gave the reply from General Hyppolite on
Thursday morning the 22d instant, about 10.30. Inclosed herein are copies
and translations of the correspondence between us.
General Légitime the same day, at about 3.30 p.m., was embarked on board of
the French man-of-warKerguélen, which left here on
Saturday the 24th instant.
According to the programme the three different corps of the army of General
Hyppolite entered this city in the most perfect order the 23d instant,
having at their head many members of the diplomatic and consular body, who
accepted my invitation to carry out fully the conditions arranged. The
French minister and British consul-general refused to accompany us to meet
the army; it was just as well that they were not with us, as their presence
might have caused a disturbance of some kind, or lent less value to our
prestige as foreign representatives.
General Hyppolite, Provisional President of the Republic of Hayti, made his
entry into this city on the 27th instant, amidst much rejoicing. After
attending the cathedral, where the Te Deum was chanted, en route [Page 499] to the National Palace, followed
by his counsellors and at least fifteen hundred horsemen, he passed by this
legation and here stopped to salute me and make the acquaintance of my
family; he made me a most flattering yet short speech. These were the only
places he stopped at on his tournèe through the city.
To-day, accompanied by Rear-Admiral Gherardi and his staff, we made an
official call upon the Provisional President. Our reception was most
cordial.
The Kearsarge leaves here this evening direct for the
Mole St. Nicholas.
From appearances, should General Hyppolite be definitely named President of
Hayti, it looks that a new era of prosperity will follow his administration,
for it must be admitted that commencing the revolution without any means
whatever, while his adversary had every advantage, to so successfully
terminate the revolution and hold in his troops who entered victoriously,
and who thus far have committed no disorder, shows a superior intelligence
in choosing his chief officers, and command in designating to them their
duties, together with a strong mind and great will in carrying out his plans
and humane desires.
I inclose herein copy and translation of a dispatch I have just received from
the counsellor of foreign affairs, which shows for itself the pleasure the
provisional government seems to have at the present friendly and peaceable
status of affairs after such a long and bloody civil war.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
307.—Translation.]
Count de Sesmaisons to the members of the diplomatic
corps at Port au Prince.
Legation of the French Republic in Hayti,
Port au Prince, August 20, 1889.
Gentlemen and dear
Colleagues:
I have received from Mr. Solon Menos, secretary of state of foreign
affairs, the letter which you will find inclosed a copy. The President
of the Republic has made an appeal for the assistance of the diplomatic
corps to endeavor to bring hack peace in Hayti. Under the conditions,
and without any intention of mixing ourselves in any manner in the
internal affairs of the country, I think, in accord, moreover, with all
of our colleagues, that it is our duty to accede to the desire of
General Légitime and of his government, and to request you to kindly act
as an intermediator between the general and the chiefs of the
revolution.
Only, that there may be no misunderstanding, it is well agreed that you
have full power to treat and bring to a solution that will, while giving
satisfaction to all, assure the security of the inhabitants of the city,
and guarantee order and respect of persons and property.
Accept, gentlemen, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
307.—Translation.]
Mr. Menos to the
Count de Sesmaisons.
Department of State of Foreign Relations.
Port au Prince, August 20, 1889.
Mr. Minister: His excellency President
Légitime, agreeably to the advice of the council of the secretaries of
state, charged me to request the good offices of the diplomatic corps in
view of a new effort to be made toward the revolutionary authorities of
the North for the definite re-establishment of peace in Hayti.
You are aware that his excellency has already manifested the intention of
withdrawing himself, to put an end to the civil war. The only conditions
that were made for his resignation were the guaranty of order at the
capital.
[Page 500]
Divers considerations would not permit to treat directly on the terms of
security that is due to the city of Port au Priuce. His excellency
thinks that the diplomatic corps will not refuse to act as an
intermediator to obtain of the revolutionary authorities the formal
assurance that order will be strictly maintained, and that persons as
well as property will be effectively respected.
Please accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 3, in No.
307.—Translation.]
Messrs. Thompson and
Garrido to General Hyppolite and his Counsellors.
St.
Marc, August 21,
1889.
Mr. Provisional President and
Messrs. Counsellors:
We have the honor to submit to you here inclosed the dispatch by which
the dean of the diplomatic corps has recognized in us full power to come
to an understanding with you on the acceptance of the propositions
contained in the note that the counsellor for foreign relations, has
remitted on the 7th of August to Messrs. Zohrab and Garrido.
We would be thankful to you to fix explicitly the mode of execution of
the said note.
Accept, etc.,
- Manuel Garrido,
- John E. W. Thompson.
[Inclosure 4, in No.
307.—Translation.]
Mr. Firman to
Messrs. Thompson and
Garrido.
St.
Marc, August 21, 1889
(Eighty-sixth year of the Independence).
| Liberty. |
Equality. |
Fraternity. |
republic of hayti.
Gentlemen: The Provisional Government has
authorized me to answer your dispatch of this day, which has been duly
received.
Please find herewith a note signed and containing the details of the
manner of execution of the note that I have had the honor to remit on
the 7th instant to the Messrs. Zohrab and Garrido.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
307—Translation.]
Programme of the entry of General Hyppolite and his
army into Port au Prince.
St.
Marc, August 21, 1889
(86th year of the Independence).
| Liberty. |
Equality. |
Fraternity. |
republic of hayti.
General Légitime having accepted the counter propositions that the
provisional government made to him relative to the entry of the troops
of the North and the South into Port au Prince, and having manifested
the desire that the hour be fixed at which the entry shall take place,
that he may be able to withdraw some moments beforehand, it is agreed
that affairs shall be arranged as follows:
Friday, 23d instant, at 9 o’clock in the morning, the commission composed
of the commander of the arrondissement, prosecuting attorney, and the
magistrat communal, accompanied by the diplomatic and consular corps,
will proceed to Port Rouge. There they will meet the army corps
commanded by the counsellor of the department of war and marine, which
shall make, in the most perfect order, its entry into the city by the
St. Joseph’s gates and occupy Fort National, the defences of the palace
and its surroundings, the arsenal, and Fort St, Clair.
[Page 501]
On the same date, at 11 o’clock in the morning, ssion, accompanied as above, will go and meet on the
Lalue road the army corps, commanded by the counsellor of the department
of the interior, which shall make its entry into the capital in the best
order and occupy the entire line northeast of the city, Fort National,
Fort Dimanche, including Post Marchand.
The same date, at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the same commission as
above will take the army corps commanded by General Antoine Simon,
commander of the arrondissement of Cayes, president of the delegation of
the provisional government, superior chief of the southern forces,
operating against Port au Prince, which shall make its entry in the best
order and occupy Fort Bizoton, Fort Mercredi, the fort at the Leogane
gates, in fact the whole of the southern line, and all the other posts
that may he assigned to it by the minister of war, who shall be the
first in authority in Port ail Prince until the arrival of the
provisional president of the republic, and of his other counsellors.
The ammunition taken by the commandant of the arrondissement of Port au
Prince from the hands of the garrison of that city, conformably to the
note of the 7th instant, shall be deposited at the arsenal, under the
care of the said commander of the arrondissement, who shall render
account thereof on the request of the provisional government.
It is well understood that it is not a question of disarming, that is to
say, taking away the arms, but only taking away the ammunition, that
becomes useless and even dangerous, once it is agreed that the besieging
troops shall enter under arms (armes au bras) into Port au Prince.
The Haytian vessels of war shall be handed over to the counsellor charged
with the departments of war and marine.
The whole shall be done loyally and in good faith, under the eyes of the
representatives of the neutral and friendly powers who will be disposed
to give their assistance for the last stage of pacification of the
Republic.
[Inclosure 6 in No.
307.—Translation.]
Mr. Firman to Mr.
Thompson.
Department of State of Foreign Relations,
Port au Prince, August 28, 1889.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to announce to
you that yesterday at noon the Provisional President of the Republic
made his entry in this city where the troops of the provisional
government have preceded him four days.
Since the departure of General Légitime the whole Republic is absolutely
pacified. The perfect order that reigns at Port au Prince, where persons
and property are now respected, the upright attitude of the army, and
the resumption of business are an evident proof that the country wishes
to continue peaceably its work of reorganization in allowing no excess
or weakness.
In begging you to have the kindness to inform your Government of this new
state of affairs, I take the occasion, etc.,
