Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
HAITI WAS HUMBLED
Official Report Made to Berlin Of
Mondays Incident.
FUS1LLADE At PORT Az PRINCE
United States Has a Similar Claim
Against Peru.
PRESSING FOR SETTLEMENT

BERLIN, December S.-The official ac-
count of the collection of an indemnity
from Haiti. accompanied by a salute Of the
German flag at Port Au Prince Monday.
says that after the ultimat um of Germany
had been delivered to the Haitian govern
ment the German cruiser Stein cleared for
action, and took UP a position close to the
Haitian war vessels.
A diplomatic request for delay in the en-
ecution of the ultimatum wds refused, and
half an hour before the expiration of the
stipulated time all the demands of Germany
were conceded and the sum insisted upon
as an indemnity ESQ., 20 be paid to Herr
LIeders) was on board the Charlotte be-
fore pm. The Haitian COVER nment's let
ter of apology to Germany arrived shortly
afterward.
FusillAde at Port au Prince.
PORT AU PRINCE, December s.--There
was lively fusillade here at II O'Clock
last night. No damage Wis done.
News at State Department.
The Secretary of State has received a
cable message from United States Minis
ter Powell at Port au Prince, saying that
Haiti has acquiesced in all the demands Of
the German government In satisfaction of
the Lueders incident, and to that extent
events in the harbor of the Haitian capital
following the arrival there of two German
scholarships.
AS stated in yesterdays Star, the officials
OF the administration recognized the right
of Germany in this instance to enforce it's
demands upon Haiti in any way short of
the actual seizure Of territory. Haiti was
given notice that if the demands of Ger
many were not compiled with within eight
hours. Port au Prince would be bombarded
by its warships and the United States gov
eminent, tactly. at least acquesced in the
bcmbardment ir case of Noncompliance
with the ultmatum.
Administration Criticised.
The attitude of the administration in this
case is being severely criticised in certain
circles as recognition of the right, of
another government to resort to force In
behalf of its citizens, while at the same
time 1t is asserted, 1t never attempts to
exercise the same right in behalf of it's
own citizens who may have been insulted
or treated with contumely in a foreign
land.
7 he case of Victor McCord is cited as a
case In point. That case has already been
pending twelve years, and appears to be
very little nearer settlement than it was
when originally brought to the attention If
the State Department. McCOrd is an Amer
lean engineer who was employed on n
Peruvian railroad during an insurrection
in that country twelve years ago.
On one occasion the insurgents seized a
traip OF which he was in charge, and COM
PEELED him by threats of death, in case of
refusal. 10 take the train to a designated
point. When the insurrection was subse-
quently suppressed, McCord was arrest ed
and imprisoned, and was only able to OBJ
tain his release by the payment OF about
$4,000. This government has all along held
that he had been unjustly treated and was
entitled to damages.
Pressing for Settlement.
Acting under directions from Congress,
the State Department has been pressing
upon Peru for the settlement of his claim
for illegal arrest and Imprisonment, and a
short time ago the department demanded
the Immediate payment of an indemnity
Of $i6,0o0. Peru is not disposed to make
the payment except an act of grace to
the United States, but the authorities will
not have it that way.
The question has teen dragging along in
diplomatic channels, however, until the
patience of the administration is well nigh
exhausted. The case IS still further comDli-
Gated by a complaint made to the State
Department today that McCord, who is
stu in Peru, is the subject of coercion and
is daily in receipt of threatening letters de-
handing that he relinquish his claim
against Peru CT leave the country. One OF
the letters to him fixes December p as the
date of his execution in case he refuses
to leave the country. His personal safety
may require compliance with these de-
manGs.