1850-August-09: Lord Palmerston expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of the United States annexing Haiti, even if the island’s government sought to …

1850-August-09: Lord Palmerston expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of the United States annexing Haiti, even if the island’s government sought to join the Union. He argued that the U.S. would be unlikely to incorporate a state whose population was “chiefly composed of free Blacks,” reflecting the persistent racial barriers to American integration. Palmerston’s assessment aligned with Secretary Clayton’s cautious approach, which favored monitoring the island’s stability over formal annexation or recognition at that time.