The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-09
CABLE MUST NOT BE CUT
COMMANDER M'CREA so INSTRUCTED
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
United States Gunboat Machias Will
Prevent the Haitien Admiral Car
rying Out His Plans.

WASHINGTON, Aug. s-The United
States and Hatien Telegraphic and Cable
Company appealed to the State and Navy
departments to-day to prevent the cutting
of its cable at Cape Haitien. According
to Information received by the cable COM
pany in New York the Haitien gunboat
Crete-a-Periot which is under command
of Admiral Killick. who has allied himself
with the revolutionary government under
General Firmin. and who has been ap-
pointed secretary of war and navy under
the revolutionary government. intends to
sever the company's cable between Cape
Haitien and New York. The company ap-
pealed to the authorities here to instruct
Commander McCrea, of the gunboat
Machias, to protect the cable from violence.
Acting Secretary of State Adee and Act
ing Secretary of the Navy Darling held
conference over the matter and decided
that it was proper for this government, in
the protection of the international inter-
ests involved. to issue the instructions, and
accordingly cablegram was sent to Com
mander McCrea, directing him TO prevent
the cutting of the cable.
The Haitlen Cable Company is understood
to be a French concern, and under ord-
looked after by the French government.
which has the Suchet and several other
vessels in West Indian waters But
the company has American affiliations and
a large amount OF American business
passes over its lines. Some of this busi-
ness is for the United States government
which uses the line in part to maintain
various points in the West Indies 1t also
is a partial dependence for government
communication with Porto Rico Under
these circumstances the State and NAVY
department officials felt the protection of
this cable came within the general policv
of protecting American interests To some
extent also principle of the Monroe doc
trine is involved, as 1t carries out the gen
eral purpose of this government to main
tain order and preserve property so far as
this can be done without interfering with
any of the sovereign rights of the southern
countries.
The action of this government is in line
with the support thus far given to the pro-
visional government set up by President
Vasquez of Haiti and at the same time it
may prove a decisive check to the ambition
of General Firmins revolutionary party
of which Admiral killick is the naval head
Some time ago Minister Powell advised the
State Department that he and Other mem
bers of the diplomatic corps had recognized
NasqueZ and his Cabinet as constituting
the de facto government of Haiti Later
this provisional government sought to ont
law the revolutionary forces and oro-
claimed Admiral hiliick pirate. request
ing our naval vessels TO apprehend him AZ
such. This request was not complied with
But while declining 10 go TO the extent of
treating killick as a pirate the authorities
here had no hesitation in preventing him
and his craft from committing lawIess
depredations. particularly in view of the
indirect interference with American inter
ests. The United States always has main
tanned the right to cut cables as an Incl
dent TO warfare. But this right is con
ceded to governments in their Sovereign "a =
pacity, and IL could not be claimed hv
revolutionary force having no status as
heliiRerents-