1791-Aug.-16: Governor Luis de las Casas of Havana reported to the Spanish government regarding the mounting tensions following the initial reports of the ge…

1791-Aug.-16: Governor Luis de las Casas of Havana reported to the Spanish government regarding the mounting tensions following the initial reports of the general insurrection in Saint-Domingue. He expressed concern about the potential for the revolution to spread to the Spanish territories through maritime communication. Las Casas emphasized the need for “perfect neutrality” while simultaneously increasing surveillance of incoming vessels and people of color. The Spanish authorities feared that the breakdown of order in the neighboring French colony would embolden their own enslaved population. This report marked the beginning of a long period of defensive maneuvers by the Cuban administration.