New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-16
RELATIONS WITH HAITI.
GREAT IMPORTANCE JUST NOW OF
THE TREATY OF 1864.
IT GIVES THIS COUNTRY SPECIAL PRIVILEGES
WHICH WILL BE INSISTED ON IN THE

PRESENT CRISIS.
Copyright: 1905: The Associated Press

that there are about one thousand Cuban refugees
in Hayti the great majority, Of course. In this
CITY \ singular absence Of enthusiasm among
them over the intervention Of America In behat
of their people has been remarked. II hope Is at
the fever point they do not show IT, At one special
resort I'm Port-au- Prince Cubans Of nearly every
class congregate in the evening drink smoke. play
cards sing and talk OF the war. They evince by
far less excitement over the hostties than do the
Haytans who group themselves daily a Iit'le pe-
fore and a little after the hour of the "sesia IN
front of the Restaurant de la Paix and the Hotel
Central and divide their attention between the
movements Of the gold premium and the achieve
ments actual and prospective OF the Americans
The widest and strangest and most absurd rumors
find ready currency in this city. Not one IN teh'
when traced anywhere It's source proves TO
have a serious foundation. Whether the Cubans
invent the majority of these in competition with
the spanlards at Havana, II is impossible TO say.
About a week ago a former Iiaytlan general
Dorsainville called on the American Minister and
offered 10 raise battalion Of so men to serve
under the American flag I'm cuba. He was In
formed that the American Government would not
authorize or sanction the recruiting OF an armed
force In a foreign country as that would be ma
grant violation Of international law. OF course, 10
couip and provision such force after II had
landed I'm Spanish territory would be different
thing.
HAYTI WILL NOT SELL IT'S GUNBOATS.
The report that the United States Government
has negotiated with the Haytan Government for
the purchase OF the gunboat crete-a- Pierrot. the
finest vessel In the atter's navy, has been persist
emily circulated Admiral Killeck. the highest
naval officer OF Hayti. told the correspondent OF
tho Associated Press Yesterday that 1t was true,
and that the Haytian Government had refused the
offer made TO 1t for the express reason that II
could not spare the vessel. The Crete-a-Pierrot'
named after OF Toussaint's famous battlefelds'
Is built on very handsome lines and when she Is
In the harbor always attracts more than any other
Haytian warship. the attention OF strangers. She
has an imposing ram and her armament is excel
lent her guns being OF the latest type. She has
an entire com Implement OF rapid-hre ordnance. With
only one boiler she Is said to make sixteen knots
an hour She has a tripIe-expansion engine. and
with a double boiler which could Toe put into her at
short notice could make. her engineer declares.
about twenty knots. Her officers would like TO
serve I'm her under tho American flag. Her second
officer is an American, who In the Federal
Navy during the civil War in the United States.
TREATY WILL. NOT BE DISTURBED.
A Haytan Deputy, who processes to be well
Informed on all political matters. said yesterday
that the Government was certain 10 favor the
elimination of Article VII from the Constitution
at the session OF the Chambers. which Will prob
ably begin this week.
The correspondent OF the Associated Press de-
rived from Brutus St Victor. the Secretary Of
State for Foreign Relations. to-day an entirely
different view OF the parliamentary programme.
Mr. St Victor denied categorically that the Gov
eminent contemplated any project for the removal
OF the prohibition Of alien ownership Of real prop
crty Such a step he said. II ever taken. must he
yet very great way off
THE people" he continued. ''arc not ready
accept such a change. There must be II gradual
preparation Of public sentiment before the Govern
mcnt could even suggest il. There is. no doubt.
..b FAY blp n bee
tested as yet chiefly In the cities. and it must
be remembered that the mass of the Haytian pop
ulaion Is rural. and that II Is strongly welded TO
national tradition"
Mr. -. Victor would not speak definitely 10
the means which the Government intends to take
to check the increase OF the premium paper
money. but he admitted that this was. perhaps
the most urgent business which could claim the
attention OF the Chambers. He mentioned the
contract already entered into by the Government
with the Bank Of Hayti to burn publicly every
month certain percentage OF the paper money
I'm payment of customs dues. This would
reduce the volume OF paper currency quite rapidly
"rhe real chief cause OF the premium gold
said MIR 81. Victor. lis the low price Of
Office II has begun TO rise again. and. II is hoped
will he restored In a few months TO its normal
value"
UNITED STATES ABLY REPRESENTED.
Whatever view critics may take OF the policy 81
he American Government in persistine In sending
OF color represent II in the island OF Hayii.
hey will not be able TO find fault with the present
inster at Port-aI-Prince. William F. Powell. on
recount OF lack OF energy Of seemingly |
cry deliberate action and OF extremely quiet man
lers. he yet seems TO have made noteworthy i'm |
preston on the powers that rule at either end Of
he island.
These dispatches have al-eliv called attention TO |
he steps which Mt Powe! has taken in pursuance |
! Instructions from Warrington. Ia commit ne |
iaytlan Government to the literal fulhlment OF all
he provisions OF the Treaty OF 1864 with the United
tates. which give Ia that country In time OF war
pecisl advantages which cannot be enjoyed by
tfer nations and also the article winch purports
, place Americans an equal footing with Hay
ans as 10 the privileges Of local trade The former
chevement was less difficult than the latter, which
blows some twenty years Of unsuccessful EFFORT
the same direction, beginning at the time when
) believe however tina; the Increased martial
restige OF America. consequent upon that country
DING with Spain FOR the deverance OF
aytan iu statesmen and Hayiians in general much
lacy could have done Mr.. Powell. nevertheless,
far as one can discern at this moment; deserves
rca sion" His language TO the Minister OF the Ex-
,rior on treaty obligations has been OF no uncer;
lin meaning. He has several times strongly stated
rat the fate OF Hayti as nation depended In a
rye degree upon the attitude OF the Government
sn Adminisration ALREADY realized this fact:
1t In an alternative sense. However vire and
Brntus St. Victor. the Foreign Minister. Presi-
mt Sam himself is inclined 10 choose the less de-
danger. II was not dificult. however, to con-
nee the Haytian Government that TO provoke re-
ntment on the part OF me American people IN me
violent friendship which they had exhibited tow
d the former since the days OF pessanes The
the spaniards. though they. have some fear Of
prisai upon the part 0: the latter e the special