Mr. Powell to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti, September 5, 1899.
No. 648.]
Sir: I respectfully inform the Department, as I
was about to embark those who have sought asylum in our legation, in
accordance with the instructions from the Department and the request
made to us by the Government, the minister of foreign affairs, Mr. St.
Victor, called and delivered an oral request from the President that I
would retain these gentlemen a few days longer.
I have done so. After waiting a period of two weeks and receiving no
information from the Government as to its intentions, I addressed a
letter to the minister of foreign affairs requesting information as to
what the Government proposed to do. I received in reply a dispatch
stating to me the decision of the Government, with a request that they
leave by the first opportunity.
I have arranged for these persons to leave this legation on the 6th of
September by the French Trans-Atlantic Line for Santiago, Cuba, at which
place they will take passage for Kingston, Jamaica. I shall inform the
Government prior to their departure.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. St. Victor.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
August 30, 1899.
No. 298.]
Sir: Agreeable to a request from His
Excellency the President, I detained the gentlemen who are in the
United States legation, as they were about to embark for St. Thomas,
in accordance with a notification from your office. The request that
was conveyed to me, that it was the desire of His Excellency that I
should allow them to remain a few days longer, at the expiration of
which time they would be allowed to return to their respective homes
with a guaranty of safety from the Government.
Since that time I heard nothing in regard to the intentions of the
Government.
[Page 391]
The few days
have grown into weeks and His Excellency is still silent as to what
he intends to do.
I therefore request that His Excellency inform me, Are the gentlemen
in my legation to be permitted to return to their homes with a
guarantee of safety from the Government? Otherwise I shall send them
away by first steamer. I request an answer, as I shall leave early
next week for the United States.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. St. Victor
to Mr. Hay.
[Translation.]
Republic of Haiti,
Department of State for Foreign
Relations,
Port au
Prince, September 2,
1899.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the dispatch of August 30 last, by which
you announce to me that in case it should not be permitted to the
Haitian citizens that have sought asylum in your legation to return
to their hearths you would induce them to leave by the first
steamer.
In thanking you for that communication I have not failed to submit it
to my colleague of the department of the interior. I hasten to
inform you that the Government of the Republic has taken the
decision to embark those refugees on the French packet boat that
will leave this port the 13th of this month.
Please accept, etc.,
B. St. Victor,
Secretary of State for Foreign
Relations.
[Inclosure 3.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. St. Victor.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
September 2, 1899.
No. 301.]
Sir: I have the honor to receive your favor
of this date, informing me that it is the decision of your
Government that those who have sought refuge at the several
legations shall leave the country by first opportunity, requesting
of me that I comply with the decision of your Government.
In answer to your request, I will see that the gentlemen who have
sought asylum within the legation of the United States shall leave
the country by the first opportunity. The date of departure, name of
vessel, and destination I will inform you when fully made.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 4.]
Mr. Powell to
Mr. St. Victor.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
September 4, 1899.
No. 302.]
Sir: In compliance with your request dated August 16, 1899, that your
Government requested those persons who have sought asylum in this
legation “should leave by first steamer.” In conformity with that
request, these gentlemen will leave on the 7th of September, by the
French Trans-Atlantic Line, for Santiago, Cuba.
Accept, etc.,
