We investigate the magnetic field behaviour of an antiferromagnetic He
isenberg spin-1 chain with the most general single-ion anisotropy. We
discuss the regime in which the magnetic field is below the transition
value. The splitting of the Haldane triplet is obtained as a function
of a field applied in an arbitrary orientation by means of a Lanczos
exact diagonalization of chains of up to 16 spins. Our results am well
summarized in terms of a first-order perturbation theory. We explain
various level crossings that occur by the existence of discrete symmet
ries, A discussion is given of the electron-spin-resonance and neutron
-scattering experiments on the compound Ni(C2H8N2)2NO2ClO4 (NENP).