1889-January-Early: The U.S. State Department’s policy toward the rival Haitian leaders, such as Légitime, became contingent on European intentions.

1889-January-Early: The U.S. State Department’s policy toward the rival Haitian leaders, such as Légitime, became contingent on European intentions. Bayard indicated he would not formally recognize the Légitime government until he received “definite assurance” from France that they were not seeking a protectorate in exchange for such recognition. This cautious approach illustrated how the United States used its power of diplomatic recognition as a lever to prevent European powers from gaining strategic advantages in the Caribbean.