Hornet incident
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The Hornet incident was an 1871 diplomatic incident involving Spain, Haiti, and the United States.
In January 1871, at the height of the Ten Years' War between Spain and independence-seeking Cubans, the Hornet, a small steamer flying the flag of the United States, arrived at Port-au-Prince, hotly pursued by two Spanish men-of-war.[1] At that time the American Navy was not as formidable as it was in 1898.[1] The Hornet was charged with being a pirate and with having on board contraband of war intended for the Cuban insurgents.[1] The Spaniards therefore demanded that the Hornet be given up to them.[1] The United States Minister immediately interposed, declaring that the Hornet was a bona-fide American steamer.[1] For this reason, Haiti refused to deliver up the ship, remaining firm in this decision despite the presence of the Spanish men-of-war in the harbor of Port-au-Prince and open threats made by Spain's representative.[1] The Spanish Consul went so far as to address an ultimatum to the Haitian Secretary of Foreign Affairs on October 5, 1871, demanding the delivery of the Hornet within twenty-four hours.[1] The dispute was assuming a very threatening aspect for Haiti, when the United States decided to relieve that country of all further responsibility in the matter.[1] In consequence, the man-of-war Congress was dispatched to Port-au-Prince, with instructions to convoy the Hornet either to Baltimore or to New York.[1] This steamer eventually left Port-au-Prince in January 1872, which put an end to the controversy between Haiti and Spain.[1]
References[]
- Haiti–United States relations
- Foreign relations of Haiti
- Foreign relations of Spain
- Spain–United States relations
- Ten Years' War
- 1870s in Haiti
- 1870s in the United States
- 1870s in Spain
- North American history stubs
- Haiti stubs