The record-union., 1897-12-12
The CITY Of Port au Prince at Present
Under Martial Law.
The Decision of President Sam to
Comply With the Demands of
Germany Excites the Bitterest
Feeling Among the Populace-
Two Attempts to Overthrow the
Government Frustrated by Mil
itary Police.

PORT AU PRINCE (HaytD, Dec. IL
Further trouble is brewing. Ihe city
is under martial law and the Ministry
is afraid to hold public audiences. On
referring the LuederS question TO Ser
lin, the Haytian Government had
strong hopes that the matter would De
automatically settled through thelr
Charge dAffaires. They offered to sub
NIT the whole matter TO arbitration,
proposing England, France, the United
States, the Haytian Republic and SWe-
den. AS this was refused another props
osition was made allowing Germany TO
select the countries. The German For
eign Minister replied his Government
did not intend to allow foreign nations
to interfere in the matter and they
would punish the blacks.
Although rumors of warships seen
steaming in this direction reached
Hayti, no intimation came of Ger
many's intention until Monday at %
O'Clock, when the Charlotte and Stem
steamed into this harbor, taking an
anchorage at Z o'clock.
1t has transpired that the German
Minister left on the 10Th ultimo and
met the warships at Puerto Plata, re-
turning on board the Charlotte. The
German Consul gave notice on Sunday
last that German subjects only could
go aboard the two German merchant
vessels lying in the harbor, and on
Monday at 8 o'clock the German COM
mander sent an ultimatum to the Gov
ernment that the city would be bonn
barded unless within four hours they
of ha
viously demanded. made themselves
responsible for Lueders' future safety
allowing him to return whenever he
choose apologizing to the Emperor and
received the German Charge d d'Affaires
again.
The commander also sent a commu-
nication to the diplomatic corps that
he intended to lombard the city at /
O'Clock, and advised its members to get
| their subjects to a place of safety.
Minister Powell convened the diplo-
matte corps, and they went aboard the
| Charlotte, requesting the German COM
mander to allow longer time - if not
| four days, at least twenty-four hours
! in order to get their subjects away.
| The commander abruptly refused to
give one minute over the time of the
ultimatum, but offered one of the Ger
| man vessels to put their respective
| subjects on.
| Minister Powell said he would not
allow Americans to go aboard any YES
| sci, but that he would take them to the
| American Legation and there defend
them against all odds The diplomatic
corps then returned again TO the palace,
and the President requested advice as
| to what he should do. He asked the
| American Minister if he could expect
| any encouragement from the United
| States. Minister Powell replied that he
! had no news or instructions from the
| United States Government, and that
| the Haytians would have to act on
their own responsibilities, but that he
would not witness their humiliation.
The commander had stated that he
would fire a warning gun at half-past
| u p. m., and the Government decided
to give way at twenty minutes past Il.
white flag was hoisted and at 4
o'clock they sent the gold and an apol-
ogy and the German Minister was re-
| ceived with a salute No foreign war
ships were in the harbor at the time of
| the arrival of the Germans, the United
States cruiser Marblehead arriving at
I a. m. The German ships preparing for
action caused intense excitement
among the Haytians, who prepared for
a fray, threatening the life of every
white. Tho foreigners embarked on
different vessels and the American col
ony took refuge at the Legation. The
decision of the Government excited the
bitterest feeling among the Haytians,
who blame the Government for the hu-
initiation. Two attempts to overthrow
the Government We're frustrated by the
military police.
| The diplomatic corps is indignant at
| the German commander. who was
high handed and discourteous through
out the interview