Leclerc’s invasion announced peace with Britain as cover for re-conquering rebels

Evidence

In late January 1802 the ships that had left France weeks before gathered off the eastern coast of Spanish Santo Domingo. Leclerc’s plan was to send troops ashore in the island’s major port towns—Le Cap, Port-au- Prince (then called Port Républicain), Les Cayes, and Santo Domingo— and then occupy the surrounding territory. He took command of the ships heading for Le Cap, and, hovering off the coast in sight of the town on February 3, sent a message to Christophe. Having made peace with Britain, it announced, the government of France had sent troops to Saint- Domingue to defeat any “rebels” in the colony. He hoped that Christophe would not be among such rebels, but warned him that if he resisted he would be held responsible for the violence that was unleashed. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 926