Monsieur Excellent to E. D. Bassett, June 19, 1875

Mr. Excellent to Mr. Bassett.

Mr. Minister: I have had the honor, in different dispatches which I have addressed to yon, to express to you the desire of this government to obtain from you the delivery of General Boisrond Canal, and his associates, in order that they may be handed over to justice. From information which has come to the government, according to which this general might have entered (serait entré) your country residence (maison de campagne) with arms and ammunitions, I did not fail, by my dispatch of the 22d of May last, to express to you the confidence of the government in your fidelity, and the firm hope which it conserves that, if these reports were founded, you would doubtlessly not tolerate any act of a nature to compromise the public security. You gave in this regard to the government formal assurances. Nevertheless, Mr. Minister, the government is to-day impressed (imbu) that these gentlemen conserve the criminal intention of making an attempt against the public peace by some means. It would not be able to answer for the consequences which would result from such conduct, which in its thought would be less likely to occur, if you should judge it necessary to find yourself rather in town, at the hotel of the American legation, than at your country-seat, where, in spite of all the desire of the government, it would not perhaps be possible to surround you with all necessary guarantee in case of eventualities, the arrondissement of Port au Prince being moreover in a state of siege.

The government would be happy, Mr. Minister, if you should be able to find the means of anticipating these grave difficulties, to ward them off from the country, in the interests of its relations with that which you represent, which are the objects of all the solicitude of the government.

Be pleased to accept, Mr. Minister, the new assurances of my very high consideration.