No. 207.
Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish.
Port au Prince, Hayti, Oct. 31, 1871. (Received Nov. 16.)
Sir: In acknowledging the receipt of your dispatches No. 80, of August 31, and No. 81, of September 11, 1871, I have the honor to state, [Page 256] ill answer to your No. 81, that I shall continue to be, as I have ever been, observant and watchful of the acts, both of this government and of the foreign representatives here, tending to disturb the domestic peace and tranquillity of Saint Domingo.* * *
In my No. 91, of the 3rd instant, I have somewhat anticipated the latter clause of your No. 81, in which you instruct me to ascertain if the transmission of aid to the Dominican insurgents can be traced to the Haytian government.* * * In this case it would scarcely be prudent or even safe for any person who is either a Haytian, or has any permanent interests in Hayti, and who has direct knowledge of Haytian interference in Saint Domingo affairs, to come forward with testimony of that knowledge. And if, for instance, men or supplies are moved forward through the plains to the Dominican frontiers, or if Haytians are taken as prisoners of war over the boundary of Hayti, and the facts are brought to the government’s attention, the reply is ready, in the one case, that the supplies and re-enforcements are sent forward to guard the Haytian frontier, and, in the other, that the Haytians taken prisoners as engaged in the contest, over the Dominican lines were so engaged without the knowledge or consent of their government, and must take the consequences.
* * * * * * *
Since the publication in the official organ, Le Moniteur, no further similar official publication has appeared, and, as far as I am informed and believe, the angry project of ex-minister Lorquet to declare war against Saint Domingo has been abandoned, even Lorquet himself having ceased to discuss it.
The * * * here, who is something of a counselor of this government,* * * has since his late arrival from Europe steadily advised this government to abandon its secret, but thus far ineffective, warfare on President Baez. His idea, as far as I have been able to gather it, seems to be that President Saget should propose to President Baez a treaty, in which all questions of boundary should be settled, perpetual peace between the two republics be affirmed, and the ceding of any portion of the territory of either republic to any foreign power forever interdicted. This project, or something like it, was recently opened to President Baez through the English charge in his recent visit to Saint Domingo. The Dominican minister, Mr. Gauthier, has, I suppose, informed you more correctly than I can of the whole proceeding in this regard. * * * *
The French charge d’affaires, the Count de Lemont, has not thus far manifested any special interest in the subject.
I have, &c.,