Bassett to Mr. Jastram, March 22, 1872

Mr. Bassett to Mr. Jastram.

Sir: I acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of this date, in which you detail certain unpleasant proceedings that were taken at Saint Marc on the 20th instant, in reference to yourself, by persons in the service of the Haytian government. I have read with painful interest all the statements with which you favor me.

Whether or not Articles IV and V of the consular regulations, in view of the privileges and powers exercised by consular officers of other nationalities represented here, would afford a color of justification for your action in resisting the forcible arrest of the man Batraville, aîné, who had taken refuge in your consular office, I do not propose to discuss. Suffice it to say, on this point, that our Government will not sanction any resistance by its consular officers in this republic to the arrest by the authorities, for the time being, of any persons who may take refuge in its consulates here.

From your representations I am pained to learn that persons in authority under the Haytian government used what seems to me unjustifiable, unlawful force and violence upon your person—a proceeding which I think the officers of this republic never before ventured to take under like circumstances toward any acknowledged consular officer here.

I have conferred with Captain C. C. Carpenter, commander of the United States war steamer Nantasket, in reference especially to this point of your dispatch, and it has been decided that I shall proceed to Saint Marc on the Nantasket, to make there a full and impartial investigation into all the facts and circumstances of the case. I expect to have the opportunity, in the course of my investigation, of communicating with President Laget and three of his four ministers of state, all of whom are said now to be at Saint Marc.

Please hold yourself in readiness to accompany me to Saint Marc on the Nantasket, which will leave this evening.

I am, &c,