ARTICLE V. The present convention shall be duly ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the approval of the Senate thereof, and by the President of Gautemala, by and with the approval of the National Legislative Assembly thereof, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in Washington or in Guatemala. In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this Treaty and have hereunto affixed our seals. Done in duplicate at Gautemala, this twenty-seventh day of August, one thousand nine hundred and one. W. GODFREY HUNTER [SEAL.] And whereas the said Convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the City of Guatemala on the 16th day of September, one thousand nine hundred and two: Now, therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Convention to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two and of the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and twenty-seventh. [SEAL.] By the President: ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary of State. THEODORE ROOSEVELT HAITI. REVOLUTION IN HAITI. a Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, May 11, 1902. (Mr. Powell reports that the situation at Port au Prince is extremely interesting, it being reported that the President will probably leave on May 12, in which event bloodshed is feared; that the south demands the Presidency; that Firmin and Leconte are candidates from the north.) Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Powell reports that the President of Haiti has resigned and is to leave the Republic; and requests the presence of a naval vessel to protect American interests.) Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Port au Prince, May 12, 1902. (Mr. Powell reports that the Chambers were fired upon and closed by the populace; that one deputy was mortally wounded; that the palace and arsenal were attacked on the night of May 11, when several were killed and wounded; that the diplomatic corps is to embark the President of Haiti at noon, May 12; that the minister for foreign relations and the minister for war are at the United States legation; that Firmin, with an army is marching on Port au Prince; and that business is for the present suspended.) a Under this topic are treated questions arising out of the request made by the Provisional Government of Haiti that the Crête à Pierrot, a Haitian naval vessel under command of Admiral Killick, formerly of the Haitian navy, but subsequently in revolt against the Provisional Government, be treated as a pirate, and the attempted blockade of Haitian ports by decree of the Provisional Government; from both of which propositions the United States Government dissented. Particulars concerning the causes of, progress of events during, and termination of the revolution, together with an account of the sinking of the Crête à Pierrot, are also included. Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Powell reports that a committee of eleven, with ex-President Canal as chairman, has been named to conduct affairs at Port au Prince, and that a similar committee has been named in all cities of the Republic; that the admiral in command of naval vessels is to leave for the north, and that all is quiet.) Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Powell states that the presence at Port au Prince of a United States naval vessel is urgently needed, and requests to be informed when one may be expected.) Mr. Hill to Mr. Powell. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hill states that the U. S. S. Topeka sailed from Port Royal, S. C., for Port au Prince on the morning of May 16.) Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Mr. Powell reports the appointment of a committee styled the "committee of safety," which committee has addressed a communication to the diplomatic corps, and inquires if he shall recognize the committee.) Mr. Hill to Mr. Powell. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 16, 1902. (Mr. Hill directs Mr. Powell to carefully avoid taking sides in the existing contentions in Haiti, but to enter into necessary business rela tions with the de facto government.) No. 1092.] Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to state to the Department that events within the past week have moved very rapidly. Since the date of my arrival, May 11, General Sam, the President, has resigned his office, the people have compelled both Chambers (Senate and House of Deputies) to close before they could elect a President to take the place of General Sam, who has left the country to reside in the future in France; and lastly, have compelled the late cabinet to seek asylum at the several legations, and have also selected a committee, styled a "committee of safety," in each city of the Republic to protect the various interests therein, such committee to form a central committee, who are to elect a provisional government, who in their turn are to order elections for members of the House of Deputies, who will elect the members of the Senate, and both Houses will thereafter elect the President. At the present moment the Republic is without an executive and a legislative branch of the Government, except the committee above named; yet one arriving here would scarcely believe that a violent revolution had occurred, a government driven from power, almost, one might say, without bloodshed. So quietly has this been done that business has resumed its normal functions. I will briefly give to the Department a detailed report of these events as they have occurred. While the climax was rapid, the events leading to it were slow. In order that the Department may be fully aware of this condition of affairs, it is necessary to state that General Sam was elected President April 1, 1896, by the National Chamber upon the sudden death of General Hypolite. At the time he was elected Congress enacted a law requiring him to enter upon the duties of the Presidential office at once, and to remain in office until May 15, 1903. This law, it seems now, was not constitutional, as the constitution states: That upon the death, resignation, malfeasance in office, or removal therefrom of the President before the 15th of May (in any year) the cabinet or council of ministers is charged with these functions until the 15th of May, when the newly elected President shall assume the duties of the Presidency; but if a President should accept office or enter upon the duties of the same prior to this time (15th of May), then his term of office must expire on the 15th of May of the year preceding the time that it actually expired, thus not allowing the incumbent to remain in office the full seven years, the time for which he was elected. For some reason this provision of the constitution was not thought of, or else forgotten, at the time General Sam was elected. No mention was made of this section until about a year ago, when the question was launched upon the public view by the enemies of the Government. The more this question was discussed the more potent it became, until it occupied the attention of all classes to the exclusion of all other matters. At the time this law was enacted by Congress, defining when President Sam should enter upon his duties and also when his term should end, it was considered valid. Owing to the absence of a provision in the constitution to provide for a supreme court before whom such matters could be decided, it was thought that Congress could act as such court. According to the time of General Sam's election his term would have expired April 1, 1903; and if he had remained in office until the 15th of May of that year, he would have remained in office forty-five days beyond the time for which he was elected; but, according to the present action of those opposed to him, his term has been abridged ten months and fifteen days. The several political arrests and the exile of many persons within the past two years have been on account of this discussion, they demanding that this article of the constitution should be literally followed, the Government, on its part, believing that in the arrest and exile of all such persons all discussions and agitation of this matter would cease. But this rigor on the part of the Government produced, instead of friends, enemies, who were daily gaining strength, finally, as has been seen, overpowering the President and both Houses of Congress. At the several interviews I had with the President up to the time I left for Santo Domingo (February 10) he stated that it was his intention to remain in office until he had finished his term (to May 15, 1903) and that he would not resign or cease to be President prior to that time. He had also impressed this fact upon the members of his cabinet up to May 1 of the present year, when it was learned that it was his intention to resign at an early day. The first dissatisfaction on the part of the people toward the Government was caused by the course pursued by the President in the late elections for members of the House of Deputies, held in January last, by what they termed unwarranted interference on the part of the Government in the elections. It is said in many places where elections were held that only those were allowed to vote who would promise to cast their votes in favor of the Government's candidate. Those who would not so promise could not vote. In other cases when the opposing candidate received a majority or a plurality his election was set aside and some one else named in his place. If anyone maintained such action to be illegal, they were either arrested or exiled. As the time for the meeting of the Chambers approached the interest in regard to this matter was quickened and the discussions of it became more violent. When the Chambers finally opened an effort was made to have both Chambers proceed to an election at an early day. This question was put off from day to day until Monday, May 12, was finally agreed upon. There were many candidates for this honor. Among the number were C. Fouchard, a minister of finance in General Salomon's cabinet and exiled by President Sam about two years ago; Solon Ménos, a former secretary of state for foreign relations in General Sam's cabinet, who is better known on account of the "Luders incident," and Senéque Pierre, an old senator. These men represented the south, from which section it is claimed the next President should come, as the north had held this office for two consecutive terms. The other candidates were from the north. They are Hon. A. Firmin, the present Haitian minister to France and a former secretary of foreign relations in President Sam's cabinet; Hon. Alexis Nord, a governor of one of the northern provinces; Gen. Tancred August, secretary of public works; Vibrum Guillaume, secretary of war, and Gen. C. Leconte, secretary of agriculture. It was supposed that the latter, in case the President, General Sam, should resign, would be the governmental candidate. It was also stated that he was supported by the leading German commercial and banking interests of this capital. In return he was to grant to them certain commercial favors, was not to favor a renewal of the present * * * |