No. 215.
Mr. Bassett to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Port au Prime,
Hayti, May 16, 1872.
(Received May 29.)
No. 127.]
Sir: I have the honor to invite your attention
to the inclosed correspondence with the Haytian minister of foreign
affairs, in relation to the landing of a howitzer from the United States
war steamer Nantasket at Gape Haytien, on the morning of the 19th
ultimo. The occurrence appears to have caused very considerable
excitement at Cape Haytien. But the prompt explanation made to the
authorities at the Cape by our consul, and by Captain Carpenter, seemed
to allay this excitement somewhat.
When, however, the government here received news of the affair, they
seemed, for the moment, to catch inspiration from the excitement which
had just passed over Cape Haytien, and the minister hurried off a
dispatch to me, (see Inclosure A.) in which he relates the circumstance,
and suggests that measures be taken to “avoid the repetition of an
incident so regrettable,” I promptly replied to him, (see Inclosure B,)
telling him that I joined in the regret expressed by Captain Carpenter
and Consul Goutier, that the motive in the landing of the gun should
have been so misunderstood, and assuring him that I would endeavor to
have the necessary precautions taken to avoid a repetition of the
“regrettable incident.” I suppose that one cause of the feeling
exhibited at the landing of the gun, was the fact that the authorities
seem to rest under a constant fear of hostile movements against them by
parties similar to the recent one of General Cinna Leeonte, and having a
real or fancied base of operation at Monte Christo, and other points in
San Domingo. Perhaps, also, they thought it a good opportunity to test
our disposition in a case in which they might fancy ground for complaint
against us.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure A in No. 127.]
Mr. Ethéart to
Mr. Bassett.
Department of State of Foreign Affairs,
Port au Prince, April 27, 1872.
Mr. Minister: The mail from the north,
which arrived this morning brought to the knowledge of my government
a fact which took place at Cape Haytien, and to which I think it
necessary to call your attention.
Friday, the 19th instant, at half past 11 o’clock in the forenoon,
the authorities of Cape Haytien were informed that a long-boat, well
manned, had just landed at the Careenage, a howitzer mounted on a
gun-carriage with wheels. The captain of the port of that city went
to the said place and saw the men of the long-boat re-embark the
howitzer; and proceed to the Nantasket, the American man-of-war at
anchor in the harbor of Cape Haytien.
The commander of the department of the north hastened to give notice
of what had just taken place to the consul of the United States at
Cape Haytien. This latter official in response said that Commander
Carpenter of the American steamer had no other object in landing the
piece of artillery than to assure himself of the time that it would
take to accomplish this movement; that the commander had no
intention of failing in a proper regard toward the Haytian
authorities, and that he Would infinitely regret: it if the fact
should give rise to any such interpretation.
Now, while accepting favorably these explanations, my government
nevertheless feels
[Page 273]
itself
in duty bound to relate to you the circumstances of the lauding of
that howitzer, at the port of a city scarcely recovered from the
emotion caused by the grave events which have just taken place
there.
The landing of that howitzer might have given rise to some
regrettable incidents; as the population of Cape Haytien, and the
authorities of that city, were entirely ignorant as to who the
parties were who were engaged in that operation; neither did they
know in what intention it was performed.
My government, Mr. Minister, feels persuaded that, in your constant
desire to strengthen our good relations, you will take all the
necessary measures to avoid the repetition of an incident so
regrettable.
It is in this expectation that I have the honor, Mr. Minister, to
pray you to accept the renewed assurance of my very high
consideration.
L. ETHÉART,
Secretary of State of
Foreign Affairs.
[Inclosure B in No. 127.]
Mr. Bassett to
Mr. Etheart.
Legation of the United States,
Port an Prince, April 29, 1872.
Sir: Your dispatch of the 27th instant has
this moment reached me, and I hasten to acknowledge its receipt.
In that dispatch you state, on the information which your government
had received from Cape Haytien, that on the morning of the 19th
instant, at 11½ o’clock, a boat filled with men, and carrying a
howitzer, was launched from the United States war-steamer Nantasket,
then anchored in the bay of the Cape, and that the said boat, coming
to the Careenage, landed the howitzer, but that the men, on the
approach of the commander of the port, quickly re-embarked the gun
and hurried back to the Nantasket. You favor me with the further
statement that the occurrence became a subject of correspondence
between the Haytian authorities and the United States consul at the
Cape. In this correspondence the consul explained that the movement
was simply a customary naval exercise; that our naval commander not
only did not intend by it he slightest disrespect to the authorities
of Hayti, but that he expressed through the consul his very great
regret that the circumstance should have been regarded in the least
as unfriendly or disrespectful. You also inform me that your
government has favorably received this explanation, and express the
hope that I will take such measures as will prevent in the future a
recurrence of a similar event. I thank you, Mr. Minister, for the
information which you are pleased thus to convey to me.
I send herewith the dispatch (see inclosure A) which the United
States consul addressed to General Nord Alexis. This dispatch gives
an explanation of the affair substantially as you have stated it to
me, and in it the consul expresses the regret of the naval commander
at the occurrence.
I assure you, Mr. Minister, that I myself join in this expression of
regret, and I will use my best endeavors to the end that a similar
occurrence may not again arise.
I am, &c,
