Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-30
HAYTl PRESENTS ITS CASE
Attention Of State Department Called to
the Matter.
NO PROBABILITY OF INTERFERENCE
United states VIII Not object to Any
Reasonable Action OF Germany,
but Would demonstrate Mt
Hnrsh Measures.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 29.--The attention
OF the Department of State has been formally
directed to the friction that has arisen be-
tween Germany and Hayti as result Of the
arrest by the officials of the latter country
of half blood named Lueders, While the
department has been unofIicially watching
the matter for some time past 1t was not
until today that the case came formally
before it through the appearance there OF
Mr.. Leger, the minister from iIayti to
Washington. The minister came TO consult
Assistant Secretary Day and the attitude OF
Germany in the Lueders case was discussed.
The information was given out at the state
department that this government so far has
gone only to the length OF instructng AM
bassador White at Berlin to watch develop
ments and keep his government Informed.
He will lodge protest only In the event
of the performance by Germany OF some act
that is not consistent with Justice
and International law: something that
Is not anticipated here. In other
words the State department does not feel that
1t has a right to interpose so long as the
demands of Germany for redress are kept
within the bounds of sound practice In In
ternatonal disputes, following In this the
precedent set by the last administration,
when it permitted the landing of British
troops at Cornto, Nicaragua, to secure in
demnity fc. the illtreatment of British con-
sular officers. 1t does not follow from this
however, that the administration Will look
with unconcern upon any harsh and unjust
measures that may be sought to be put In
force by Germany toward the little island
republic.
FACTS HAVE BEEN DISTORTED.
The department has been informed that
the statement of facts that has been made
in the case of Lueders is somewhat mislead-
ing, in that 1t makes some important omis-
slons. For instance, the foundation OF the
claim of Hayti that it had the right to pun
sh the man as 1t did lies in an assertion
that he was a citizen of Hayti. Luedes was
born in Hayti, of a German father and
native Haytan woman, and, according to the
laws of the republic that made the child a
full-hedged citizen of HaytL Again, as an
explanation for the apparently severe treat
ment of Lueders that Haytian government is
prepared to show that he had been twice ar
rested and convicted of the same offense
namely: resisting and assaulting an officer
The first offense was committed little over
a year ago, and the Haytian law, like that
in our country, in some cases, provides for a
much more severe penalty in the case of
second conviction. Also, as an indCa-
alton there was no discrimination praCtiCed
toward Lueders on the score that he was a
German subject, it can be shown by the Hay
tian government that the person arrested
with him at the same time for the same Of
fense, a native full-blooded Haytiau, was
subjected to exactly the same penalty-$500
fine and years imprisonmeut-that was
meted out to Lueders. Altogether the case
is regarded at the State department as one
that might properly be adjusted through the
regular channels of diplomatic negotiations
instead of through the strong means of
demonstrations in force, particularly in view
Of the fact that Lueders is now at liberty
and in Germany and the acute phase of the
case has been passed.
The Haytian minister states that the re-
public is preparing for an eventuality, con-
sdering that its honor is iavolved in the
present trouble and that it cannot yield to
demonstrations of force by a powerful na-
ton. Tho maister says that Haytls ports
are unfortified and that the country has no
navy, but has army of fair proportions.
Naturally 1t could not expect to contend
against one of the most powerful nations on
the globe, but with the honor of the repub-
lie at stake he declares it would resist to the
last and preferred to be crushed rather than
yield to what it regards as an injustice. The
Haytiaa authorities consider that the Mon
roe doctrine applies to the present case and
for that reason expect the people OF the
United States will not approve the crushing
of Hayti by a powerful European govern
ment or that the authorities will not remain
inactive IL the Monroe doctrine becomes in
yOlyed