Bassett to Darius Denis, September 19, 1871

Mr. Basset to Mr. Denis

Sir: I have already had occasion several times to address the department of foreign affairs, over which you now so well preside, in relation to the attitude of your government toward the republic of San Domingo in its endeavors to maintain its own domestic peace. In the several dispatches which I have had the honor to receive from your government on the subject, it has affirmed and reaffirmed its purpose to observe a strict and impartial neutrality toward the contending parties in that republic.

As late as the 28th of December last, I had the honor to convey to your predecessor, Mr. Laporte, certain representations which had been made to the government of the United States by President Baez, and from which it appeared that the government of Hayti, despite its pledges of neutrality, was constantly putting in jeopardy the tranquillity of the republic of San Domingo, by conniving at the organization of factions on Haytian territory and by furnishing war material to Dominican insurgents. Your predecessor, in his answer under date January 10, 1871, reiterates still again the pledge of neutrality, declaring that it had been faithfully observed up to that time, and he insists that the representations of President Baez would vanish if a demand were made for the specification of a single act on the part of the Haytian government in contravention of that pledge.

Since the date of these dispatches the government of San Domingo has, with specifications and directness, repeated its representations of the continued unfriendly interference in its domestic peace and tranquillity by the Haytian government. Under the circumstances these specifications could scarcely be expected to pass unnoticed, even if they came only from a source so responsible as an established and recognized government. But when they are found to accord with information neither limited nor unsupported from other trustworthy sources, with reports publicly and commonly current, as well here in Port au Prince as elsewhere, and with the well-known sympathies and predilections of the Haytian government, I think nothing less could be expected than that they should be fairly set forth, for such explanation or criticism or other regard as may be just and proper. Some of these specifications are:

1. That men, munitions of war, money, and supplies have been regularly forwarded to the Dominican insurgents by the Haytian government, as, for instance, in the month of May or June last, when a Haytian force of several hundred armed men was marched out from the valley of the Artibonite to the Dominican frontier, under General M. Benjamin as commander, which troops had orders to lend such aid to the insurgent Dominican leader Cabral as occasion might require, and actually did take some part in an engagement against the forces of President Baez; and as, for instance, in the month of June, when several hundred thousand gourdes were sent by messengers through the plains and Las Cahobas to the insurgent Dominicans.

2. That representatives of Dominican insurgents have, with the knowledge and connivance of your government, repeatedly found encouragement, aid, and comfort here in the national capital, even at the national palace, and in other parts of Hayti; as, for instance, when money and advice were freely given by your government, or at least with its knowledge, to some of those insurgents lately here, especially to a Roman priest named Merino, and also to several others who were likewise aided and encouraged in concocting and perfecting schemes for reorganizing the movement against President Baez, in which movement General Martinez, particularly, received encouragement from the same source, here in Port au Prince, to take a leading part.

3. That Dominican insurgents, under Cabral’s command, have repeatedly, when forced to retreat, been permitted to reform their forces on Haytian territory, and from Haytian territory to sally forth in hostile array against the established and recognized government of their country.

4. That Dominican insurgent leaders have been permitted to maintain with the Haytian authorities here regular communication and consultation, with the view of furthering the interests of the insurgent cause in San Domingo.

5. That not without the knowledge, and probably the consent or approval, of your government, a house is rented in the central part of this city at 40 piastres a month, for the headquarters of Dominican insurgents, who have a well-known resident for their agent here; and a journal in the Spanish language, pretendedly published at San Juan, was really concocted and issued here at Port au Prince, in the interests of these insurgents, for several months.

6. That during the month of August ultimo, orders were issued for Haytian troops in the south to aid in case of need, and to some extent the will of the junte gouvernmentale, which was formed by Dominican insurgents during the same month, and of which, contrary to expectation, General Cabral was chosen president.

7. That the corps legislatif, during the last days of its session and with closed doors, voted a sum of several thousand piastres in such a way, and with, the understanding, that it could be used in aid of the anti-Baez movement in San Domingo.

8. That, in short, at numerous times, in divers ways, encouragement, counsel, money, supplies, and other aid have been habitually furnished to the armed enemies of the republic of San Domingo by the Haytian government, or at least with its connivance and knowledge.

Such, Mr. Minister, are some of the specifications which have been made, and which appear to be sustained by remarkable corroborations. If they, or any of them, be correct, your government might be said to have acted with a want of good faith toward the Government of the United States; and, in that case, you will pardon me for remarking, not only that it would behoove your government to bear in mind the hazard it might incur by provoking the resentment of the numbers in the United States who take a lively interest in the independence of San Domingo, and especially that it should be independent of Hayti; but that it also behooves your government, as it behooves all men, nations, and individuals not to be unmindful of the penalty of at least a diminution of friendship, esteem, and credit which must ever attach to even a careless or indifferent observance of plighted faith. When one nation pledges itself to another to solemnly observe a certain course of action, that pledge ought not to be lightly regarded or lightly treated, much less to be designedly evaded.

Good faith between nation and nation lies at the very basis of all international law, of all international communion.

I seize this occasion, Mr. Minister, to renew to you the assurance of my high consideration.