1855-December-28
1855-December-28: Secretary of State William H.
HT-DRUS-1941-000350
1855-December-28: Secretary of State William H. Seward instructed Charles Francis Adams, the American minister in London, to seek assurances from the British government regarding their intentions in Haiti. Seward, determined to prevent Great Britain from gaining a strategic foothold in the Caribbean, requested a clear statement that they did not “intend or expect to acquire territory” on the island. This move was prompted by rumors that British naval actions, specifically the bombardment by the Bulldog, might have been a cover for negotiating territorial concessions with revolutionary leader Sylvain Salnave.
Source · HT-DRUS-1941-000350
Logan, 322 / Bates: HT-DRUS-1941-000350