Bassett to L. Ethéart, March 25, 1872

Mr. Bassett to Mr. Ethéart.

Sir: I have the honor to state that I have made a full and impartial investigation, at Saint Marc, into all the facts and circumstances attending the unpleasant proceedings there on the 20th instant, in course of which it was alleged, as I remarked to you at our interview on the morning of the 22d instant, a refugee was forcibly taken from the United States consular office at that point, and our consular officer, Mr. Jastram, himself suffered violence at the hands of persons in the service of your government. I regret that I could not receive, as I requested from the highest functionary of your government, whom I found at Saint Marc, encouragement to avail myself of any statement of the affair which he might have chosen to give me. But the English vice-consul, the French vice-consul, and other persons, who were eyewitnesses of the proceedings, concur in testifying to the assault upon Mr. Jastram, He was seized, without due process of law, in the consular office of the United States at Saint Marc, by a band of armed men, who were under command of an officer of your government, and who were by him ordered to take Jastram to prison. By them he (Jastram) was dragged into and through the public streets, and violent threats and insolent language directed against him and his colleagues, the English and French vice-consuls, while his premises were surrounded and menaced by this band of armed men. Of the substantial correctness of these statements I have no doubt. I do not propose to discuss with you now the seizure and arrest of the refugee. Upon that fact itself I decline to say anything further at this time.

But the assault and violence upon Mr. Jastram’s person, which are above described seem to me to be actions of a grave and serious character. Whatever construction your government may put upon these proceedings, let it be understood that we ourselves feel and shall continue to feel that we have been aggrieved by them; that we have just cause for complaint. Never before, as I believe, have any officers in the service of the Haytian Republic ventured upon such conduct toward any duly acknowledged consular officer of any foreign power represented in Hayti. I regret that a beginning of such conduct should now be taken against a consular officer of the United States.

It can scarcely be expected that these proceedings on the part of those in authority under your government should be passed over without some proper notice. It becomes my duty, therefore, to make known to you that the reparation which I ask of your government for this action on the part of its officials is—

• That the persons in the service of your government, who took part in the assau and violence upon Mr. Jastram, shall be at once made sensible of the displeasure of your government for their action in this particular.
• That a suitable apology be made to this legation for the proceedings complained of.
• That a guarantee be given to this legation, that in future no consular officer of the United States shall be molested by any Haytian authority without, due process of law.

And I would suggest that, as a public testimony to the good disposition of your government in the matter, a salute of twenty-one guns be given to the American flag.

As Mr. Jastram is absent from his post of duty in consequence of this affair, and our commercial interests at Saint Marc may be subjected to inconvenience by his absence, I respectfully request that you will give the subject your early attention.

I am, &c.,