Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-19
OUR RELATIONS WITH HAYTI.
The Late President Salamon's Offer to
President Cleveland.
NEW LIGHT on THE HAITIAN oUEsTIoy-rNTER-
OCEANIC CANAL COMPLICATIONS MAY INCREASE
OUR ALREADY GREAT INTEREST IN THE ISLAND
REPUBLIC AND ITS AFFAIRS.

Now disclosed for the first time is fact that
may throw some light on the American policy
with relation to Hayti and suggest reasons
why Mr.. Blaine desired a commission sent to
that island republic
Shortly before President Salamon died he
despaired of ever having an entirely stable
government in Hayti without the friendly as
sstance of the United States and he concluded
to ask for a close alliance He first made a
verbal proposition to our minister at Hayti,
and later put it in the form of an official COM
munication, which he sent to President Cleye-
land.
PRESIDENT sALAMoN's OFFER.
He offered, in this communication, to give
to the United States the absolute right to the
port and harbor known as Mole San Nicholas one
of the best harbors of the island. for q naval
station, that we might establish there coal
ing station and harbor for the American squad
ron He made this as a direct offer in settle
ment of any differences that might exist be-
tween the two countries, and followed 1t with
an expression of the wish that the United States
might extend protectorate over the island.
This proposition was received by the Presi-
dent and is now on file at the State depart
ment Before any action could be taken on it
President Salamon died and the internal
troubles that are now disturbing the island
began.
REASONS WHY PART OF THE OFFER SHOULD HAVE
BEEN ACCEPTED.
Perhaps the State department under its then
management was tardy in taking action. 1t is
not at all likely that the department would
have entertained the idea of extending pro-
tectorate over Hayt, but there were very great
reasons, which still exist, why the proposition
to give us the port of San Nicholas should have
ranpiva6 yp,th sati No have
no harborage or coaling station in the West
Indies. With the complications that are liable
to arise at any time over the conflicting inter-
ests of France and America in the interoceanic
canal enterprises and other matters of COM
mercial value to us, it is of the greatest i'm
portance that we should have a foothold for a
naval station in this vicinity. There is no
better place than that offered by President
Salamon.
THE PROPOSED COMMISSION TO HAyTI.
This proposition was still unacted upon wheIi
MIR. Blaine went into the State department, and
it is believed to have furnished the incentive
for his proposition to send a commission to
Hayti. 1t is not at all certain that, in the ordi-
nary course OF diplomacy, we would be able to
get as liberal concessions from the new gov
ernment as were offered by Salamon. The
present state of affairs might be used however,
by proper diplomacy to bring about such q
concession as we want.
1t is believed that Mr.. Blaine's idea in pro-
posing the commission was to make inquiries
into this matter and to learn what Legitime's
disposition was before recognizing him by send
ing a minister.
THERE IS VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
between the interests in Hayti and those in the
Panama and Nicaragua canal projects. For
this reason the French are striving for suprem-
acy. French power in Haytl would be men,
ace to American interests. The enforceme mt
of the Monroe doctrine is involved in this
matter, and. with it, the danger Of trouble
with France.
Hayti is the key to the looked-fo- inter-
oceanic canal commerce, and for that reason
the French would strive to weaken our in
fuence in Hayti and to establish themselves
there.