Chater 366

Chapter 366: Reciprocity

News from New York indicated that over 2,000 people had departed from Chicago on the first day, and the numbers were expected to surpass 10,000 in the coming days. Given the situation in Chicago, tens of thousands of potential immigrants seemed attainable.

Ernst and Thomas discussed their strategy. Ernst emphasized the need to penetrate the grassroots of the United States, particularly in rural areas and port cities, where they could persuade some immigrants to return to Europe or elsewhere, away from the United States.

Thomas inquired, "Your Highness, should we attempt to resume the slave trade in the United States?"

Ernst understood the implication and asked if Thomas was suggesting bringing black people back to the United States. Thomas explained that it could be a way to cover up the fact that East Africa was diverting people from the United States.

Thomas continued, "Your Highness, have you heard of Haiti?"

Ernst was familiar with Haiti, a small country in the Caribbean. Thomas proposed using Haiti as a springboard to import black immigrants into the United States. He explained that Haiti's identity as a black country and its legal abolition of slavery made it a suitable candidate. The plan involved bribing the Haitian president, customs officials, and other government departments to facilitate the immigration of black populations.

Thomas further elaborated, "After opening up the importation of blacks to Haiti, we can help the Haitian government establish an embassy in East Africa to issue Haitian identity certificates. Then, we can turn the populations in East Africa that need to be cleared into Haitian nationality, making it seem unrelated to the slave trade."

Ernst expressed his approval, and Thomas outlined that they would disguise the immigrants as sailors and workers on ships, send them to Haiti, and then assist them in reaching the southern United States, where plantation owners would likely absorb them.

Ernst recognized the potential of this plan, despite the costs East Africa would incur. He was willing to bear the expenses to achieve their objectives.

(End of this chapter)