to the port of Savannah, Ga. Arrived at that port, the Natalie, under cover of night, there shipped thirty-two cases containing cartridges, guns, bullets, gun carriages, etc., and furtively sailed away without procuring any manifest or paper from the custom-house.

From Savannah the yacht proceeded to Nassau, where she was until the 9th of February, sheltering under the American flag her contraband of war, and the last telegraphic advices inform me of her presence on the 23d of February at Fortune Island, one of the Bahama Islands. This expedition, for a long time in preparation by the Haitian refu. gees at Kingston, and by their accomplices in New York, is conducted by one Antoine Salini, a Corsican naturalized American, His design is to reach Jamaica, there take on board the revolutionary Haitians who have taken refuge on that island, and to effect their landing on the coast of Haiti.

In view of this act of an American vessel secretly sailing from a port of the United States without papers from the custom-house, carrying away arms and munitions of war; in view of the unlawful use made by Salini and his accomplices of the American flag to conceal his contraband of war and facilitate an expedition the purpose of which is to rekindle civil war in a country which entertains friendly relations with the Republic of the United States, the Haitian Government, fully confiding in the justice of the American Government, in denouncing to it these facts requests that it will take such measures as it may deem efficacious toward arresting an attempted violation of international law. Accept, etc.,

C. HAENTJENS.

P. S.-Herewith I have the honor to forward to you copy of a letter received from Savannah and containing information concerning the cargo shipped by the Natalie. I have not procured affidavits in support of this information in the belief that if obtained directly by your orders, should you think it well to do so, they would be all the more convincing.

C. H.

[Inclosure-Copy of a letter.]

Mr. Farie to Mr. Meehan.

SAVANNAH, GA., January 26, 1894.

DEAR SIR: I have to acknowledge your favor of 24th instant, inclosing cuttings from the New York Herald and World, re yacht Natalie, and beg to confirm my telegram of date saying:

Natalie Herald cutting; in the main true; Capt. Antonio Salini in command; 26 cases cartridges, 5 cases guns, 6 cases gun carriages, shipped Bannerman, Front street, New York, taken on board yacht. Destination or present location unknown. The yacht arrived here December 31. The master called himself Nelson to some people, but I find from inquiries which I made that he had given his name as Antonio Salini to others. No entry was made at the custom house either of the arrival or departure of yacht.

After arrival here, and while waiting, the yacht was coaled up, taking on board about 13 tons of coal. Some of the coal was in sacks and was piled on deck. She was also well provisioned. Before taking coal on board, however, the master called in John Rourke, of the firm of John Rourke & Son, to examine the machinery. Some changes were recom

mended, and made, to increase speed of vessel. From all I could gather the changes made increased her speed from about 10 knots an hour to 14 knots.

It was given out here that the yacht belonged to private parties, and was awaiting their arrival here to start with them on a hunting and fishing expedition. The parties were coming from the north. As regards the shipment of ammunition, I would state that I saw the bills of lading for same. They were shipped by the Ocean Steamship Company's steamer City of Augusta, appointed to sail January 10, 1894, viz.

First bill of lading.

Goods shipped by Francis Bannerman, 27 Front street, New York City, consigned to Earnest Morrett, Savannah (or Herritt). Box Nos. 4-12, 14-15, 24-34; 21 boxes containing cartridges.

Second bill of lading.

Five cases guns, 3 cases gun carriage and chests, 1 case gun box carriage and chests, 1 case gun chest, 1 case gun carriage.

Third bill of lading.

40-41, 42-44; 5 boxes cartridges.

son.

The consignee here is unknown and probably was an imaginary perThe freight on the packages was paid here and the goods were hauled away after dark on the 20th and shipped on board the yacht from the river side at foot of West Broad street.

The yacht sailed Sunday night. Destination unknown; present location unknown, although the generai impression here is that she went direct to the Bahamas.

The master sailed without settling all John Rourke & Son's bill. There is a balance of $100 or so unpaid, and I understand telegrams were sent to Fernandina and to Pensacola to attach vessel if she put in at these ports.

I return you herewith newspaper cuttings and inclose my bill for services in the matter.

Yours, etc.,

A. L. FARIE, Correspondent Marine Underwriters.

Mr. Uhl to Mr. Haentjens.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 5, 1894.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 27th ultimo, in regard to an alleged violation of the neutrality laws of the. United States by the American steam yacht Natalie, which is reported to have clandestinely shipped munitions of war at Savannah, Ga., and to have sailed from that port without manifest or other papers, her final destination being the coast of Haiti, where it is proposed to land these munitions and Haitian insurgents who had taken refuge in Jamaica. You inclose a letter from Mr. A. L. Farie, of Savannah, reciting particulars, and you ask that the necessary measures be taken to check the attempted violation of international law.

A copy of your note and of its inclosure has this day been communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney-General.

I note your statement that you have not considered it necessary to procure affidavits to substantiate the statements concerning the cargo shipped at Savannah. In similar cases it has been deemed well that due showing under oath should be made by some person having knowledge of the facts claimed to constitute the violation of law. The Natalie being now without the jurisdiction of the United States, can not be pursued on the high seas or into a foreign port.

Accept, etc.,

EDWIN F. UHL,
Acting Secretary.

No. 51.]

Mr. Smythe to Mr. Gresham.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Port au Prince, Haiti, March 8, 1894.
(Received March 19.)

SIR: Yesterday morning the steam yacht Natalie was brought into this port under convoy of the two Haitian cruisers Capois la Mort and the Dessalines. In the afternoon I received a communication from the foreign office requesting that a representative of this legation accompany the foreign secretary and other members on board the vessel to witness the investigation of the engineer and another of the crew of the yacht who, as I learn, have been retained in the service of the Haitian Government. They detailed the course of the vessel from Port Jefferson, N. Y., thence to Delaware, where coal was taken, thence to Norfolk for coal, and from thence to Savannah, Ga., where the yacht lay for three weeks.

Nearly at the end of this period the captain, Salini, gave all hands leave to go on shore for three days and when they returned it was found that a number of heavy cases had been shipped and which proved to be munitions of war. Some of these were thrown overboard when the vessel went ashore on one of the Bahama reefs. The yacht anchored in the harbor of Fortune Island, and almost immediately afterward one of the Haitian war ships dropped anchor outside. It seems then that the captain of the Natalie began negotiations for the sale of the vessel to the Haitian Government, which sale was concluded on the date mentioned in the agreement, a copy of which I herewith transmit. The parties interrogated professed to know much more than they told, but withheld it for a suitable "consideration," and the inference was that the testimony withheld would implicate American citizens "presumably in New York." Admiral Killeck, of the Haitian navy, brought me the protocol of agreement and asked that it be vised or indorsed at the consulate-general. Inasmuch as there appears to have been no American citizen concerned in the transaction I declined to make any indorsement other than that of its presentation with the request. I can not see that the fact of the vessel carrying the flag of the United States will give me any right to appear officially in the matter, since all the circumstances point to the conclusion that the flag was opened in violation of our laws for the purpose of levying war on a power with which we are at peace, and have treaty relations.

An inventory yesterday disclosed that there were on board two guns of recent make and good caliber, several boxes of ammunition, and several cases of rifles, all of American manufacture.

I write this dispatch hurriedly in order to mail by the Spanish steamer now in port. If you deem any special instructions necessary please send by first mail (or if urgent by cable).

I have, etc.,

HENRY M. SMYTHE.

P. S. Since writing this dispatch I learn that Salini, who sold the boat to Farrington, has papers showing him to be an American citizen, and that H. H. Farrington is consular agent of the United States at Albert Town, Bahama Islands.

Very respectfully, etc.,

H. M. S.

[Inclosure in No. 51.]

Bill of sale, registered vessel.

To all whom these presents shall come, greeting:

Know ye, that I, H. H. Farrington, of Albert Town, Fortune Island, one of the Bahamas, sole owner of the steam yacht, or vessel, called the Natalie, late of Greenwich, Conn., of the burthen of fourteen 3 tons or thereabouts, for and in consideration of the sum of five thousand two hundred and eight pounds, six shilling, and eight pence (£5,208 6 8), lawful money of these islands, to me in hand paid before the sealing and delivery of these presents by Admiral H. Killeck, of the Republic of Haiti, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and am there with fully satisfied, contented, and paid, have bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said Admiral H. Killeck, his executors, administrators, and assigns, the whole of the said steam yacht, or vessel, together with the whole of the engine, tackle, furniture as she stands, the mast, bowsprit, sails, boats, anchors, cables, and all other necessaries thereunto appertaining; the certificate of the registry of which steam yacht, or vessel, is as follows, to wit:

To have and to hold the said whole of said steam yacht Natalie and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him the said Admiral H. Killeck, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to the sole and only proper use, benefit, and behoof to him, the said Admiral H. Killeck, his executors, administrators, and assigns forever; and I, the said H. H. Farrington, have and by these presents do promise, covenant, and agree for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, to and with the said Admiral H. Killeck, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, to warrant and defend the said whole of steam yacht Natalie and all the other before-mentioned appurtenances against all and every person and persons whom

soever.

In testimony whereof I, the said H. H. Farrington, have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four. H. H. FARRINGTON,

U. S. Consular Agent and Acting Resident Justice.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of

JOSHUA E. DUNCOMBE,

Custom-House Officer.

A. E. FARQUHARSON.

WHEBOUF.

T. STEPHENS.

No. 39.1

Mr. Uhl to Mr. Smythe.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, March 21, 1894.

SIR: I am in receipt of your No. 51, of the 8th instant, reporting the sale of the steam yacht Natalie, and requesting instructions in connec

tion therewith.

The bill of sale having been sent to the Treasury, no instructions in respect to the transaction seem at present necessary.

I am, etc.,

SIR: I have received your dispatches, No. 29, of January 20, and No. 33, of February 3, 1894,1 in reference to the case of William Wakeman, an American citizen.

In your No. 29 you inclosed a letter from Mr. Wakeman, and the Department about the same time received a communication on the same subject from the office of the West India Coffee Company in New York City.

It appears that Mr. Wakeman, who is the manager of the branch of the West India Coffee Company at Rivière de Nippes, had two of his native employés arrested on the charge of theft; that they were tried and convicted, but subsequently procured a reversal of the judgment, brought suit against Mr. Wakeman for false imprisonment, and were awarded large damages. The authorities threatened to close Mr. Wakeman's place of business or imprison him unless the amount should be paid. You communicated with the minister of foreign affairs protesting against such action, and received satisfactory promises that Mr. Wakeman's rights would be protected. Your No. 33 indicates that these promises will be fulfilled, and that Mr. Wakeman anticipates no further serious trouble. The Department approves your action.

The allowance of an appeal will afford an opportunity for the correction of any irregularities which may have occurred in the original proceedings. If an appeal is not allowed, and it is clearly shown that Mr. Wakeman was not afforded proper opportunity for defense in the suit against him, as alleged in his letter, this will afford ground for complaint by this Government.

You will watch the proceedings and see that there is no denial of justice, or discrimination against Mr. Wakeman on account of his citizenship. If any attempt is made to interfere with the property of the coffee company, you will protest in the name of your Government.

In the absence of a copy of the court proceedings and of any evidence in the case the Department can not instruct you more definitely. I am, etc.,