The French Convention’s February 1794 emancipation decree triggered Louverture’s defection to France

Evidence

News of the National Convention’s February abolition of slavery had been sweeping into the Caribbean along unofficial channels, and it had probably reached Louverture, triggering his defection. In ratifying the emancipation proclaimed by Sonthonax and Polverel, the French government had won his loyalty. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 618