No. 212.
Mr. Langston to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Port au Prince,
Hayti, Nov. 20, 1883.
(Received Dec. 13.)
No. 593.]Sir: In transmitting to the Department, as herewith
inclosed, the translation of a dispatch of President Salomon, addressed
through me to the diplomatic corps, dated as of the 4th instant, I have the
honor to invite your attention specially to the fact that after detailing
the circumstances of the purchase of the ship Eider at St. Thomas, her
change of the British for the Haytien flag on her arrival at Jacmel, her
employment in the insurgent service, her probable disturbance of the
coasting trade of Hayti, especially as respects the interests of foreigners
engaged in commerce in this country, and referring to the fact that his
Government, by a decree of the 20th of September last, had declared this
vessel, known now in the change of her name as La Patrie, a pirate, the
President asks the members of the corps to recognize this ship as in fact a
real pirate, and have her pursued accordingly. It will be noticed, also,
that the President refers in the closing portion of his dispatch to the
circumstance that on the 23d of September last the diplomatic and consular
corps had seen fit to land troops in Port au Prince, and even menaced the
bombardment of his palace and forts, concluding that, if such action could
be justly taken, the request which he made as to the ship in question could
not be unreasonable.
[Page 294]
The fact as stated by the President in such regard is true. But upon due and
careful consideration of the whole subject the corps, asking the counsel of
the several commanding officers of the war vessels at the time in this
harbor in that behalf, including our own captain of the Swatara, P. H.
Cooper, could not agree with the President in his judgment in this matter;
and accordingly addressed, through its dean, a reply to his dispatch, a copy
of which, dated as of the 13th instant, is, as herewith inclosed,
transmitted to you. From the date of the reply it will be perceived that it
was somewhat delayed. This was so because the President was asked and
promised to furnish facts as regards injuries done in fact by the La Patrie
to the merchandise of foreigners found on Haytien coasters. Such facts,
however, he did not furnish; and, after the reasonable delay, the reply was
made. The corps declines, without presenting formal or extended argument in
defense of its position, to take the action suggested by the President.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
593.—Translation.]
President Solamon
to Mr. Langston.
Port au
Prince, November 4,
1883.
Mr. Minister: The enemies of my Government at
St. Thomas bought there an old steamer of the Royal Mail and sent it to
the insurgents at Jacmel, where it arrived, at the end of August, under
the British flag. On this occasion my consul at Saint Thomas exchanged
correspondence with the Danish authorities and the consul of England in
that place. But it was in vain that he told them that this steamer, then
known by the name of the Eider, was bought on account of the insurgents,
and would go to Jacmel to carry trouble and injury to Hayti, the
Government of which is in good diplomatic relations with these two
powers.
At Jacmel, the Eider, taking the name of La Patrie, replaced the English
flag by the Haytien flag; and since this ship traverses the coasts of
the South, the West, and the Artibonite of the Republic, capturing the
crafts which it meets and appropriating to itself the imports and
commodities which it finds upon them.
A decree of my Government of the 20th of September last declares this
vessel a pirate and authorizes that she be pursued.
Haytien legislation does not accord to foreigners the right of conducting
commerce by the coasting trade (which is exclusively reserved to its
citizens). Foreign merchants, then, are obliged to confide to the
coasting trade the cash which they forward to the different points for
the purchase of commodities, which are sent them by the same means of
the coasting trade. Then it results, at this moment, that the coasters
which encounter the pirate steamer, being captured, the property of
foreign merchants which is found thereupon becomes the booty of the
insurgents, From which it follows that to avoid loss of their capital
and merchandise, these merchants will be absolutely forced to suspend
every commercial operation, which will render immobile their capital and
will cause them, by consequence, considerable losses. One could
comprehend such a situation if those actually in arms against my
Government were recognized as belligerents; but not being, the acts
which they commit are piracy.
If, the 23d of September, the diplomatic and consular corps, in presence
of civil disorder which for the moment I was unable to suppress in this
capital, had landed armed men and menaced the bombardment of my palace
and the forts to arrest this disorder which brought injury to the
interests of their citizens, I am authorized to hope that for the same
reasons the diplomatic corps will judge it necessary to interfere to
stop the depredations which the steamer of the insurgents commits.
In presenting to you these considerations, I am persuaded, Mr. Minister,
that in the interest of foreign commerce threatened the diplomatic
corps, whose president you are, will decide that it is proper to capture
the Eider.
I am, &c.,
[Page 295]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 593.]
Mr. Langston to
President Salomon.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Hayti, November 13, 1883.
Excellency: The corps diplomatique has, after
duly considering your dispatch of the 4th instant, addressed to the
undersigned and by him brought to the attention of the corps, assisted
by the several commanders of the war vessels present in the harbor,
concluded that so far as it is concerned no acts connected with the
movements of the ship Eider, as the corps is at this time advised, would
justify, as against such vessels the action which you have been pleased
to suggest in your dispatch as proper to be taken by such body.
The undersigned, on behalf of the corps diplomatique, begs to present its
sentiments of the most distinguished consideration to his excellency,
and begs to assure him that the corps entertains the liveliest interest
in all things appertaining to his Government and its continued good
understanding with the great foreign powers of the world.
