The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-03
SYRIAN MASSACRE
IMMINENT IN HAITI
Report Of Minister Powell
on the Subject.
HATE FOREIGN MERCHANTS
Natives Appeal to Precedent Set in the
United States Chinese
Exclusion Act.
HATE FOREIGN MERCHANTS

Haitian dispatches announce demon
sTation against Syrians as a result OF
the inhammatory speech made by Pres
ioent Nord, in which he threatened TO
have revenge on the foreigners who have
forced the rate Of exchange up to coo per
cent and are said to be plotting against
the government
This movement against Syrians was
foretold by United States Minister Pow
ell IN a report he made TO the State De-
partment, which was first given TO the
public two weeks ago in the advance
sheets OF Foreign Relations Mr.. Pow
ell said in the report that massacre Of
Syrians might be expected at any time
as the feeling against tee Syrians was
growing stronger all the time Practi-
cally all the retail business OF the
island is under the control Of Syrians.
who have acquired citizenship either in
the United States or IN France that thew
may enjoy the protection Of foreign
flag.
Once Were Merchants.
At one time thousands Of Haitians car
ried merchandise through the republic
of Haiti on donkeys and made a living
selling their wares. Ali the trade OF
these men has now been absorbed by
Syrian peddlers, who carry their goods
on their backs. and live so cheaply that
Haitians cannot compete with them.
| Syrians are not allowed TO become nat
uralized in Haiti. and " 1uld not be per-
mitted TO roam over the country II they
| did not gain foreign citizenship and thus
obtain even greater freedom OF travel
than natives have
| Mr. Powell said in his report that the
natives object 20 the unsanitary man
ner in which the Syrians 1--we. He says
| that frequently many families crowd to-
| gether IN one small house and do not
| take precaution TO prevent the spread OF
/ conta gious diseases. The Syrians are
| charged with usury and are said TO be
/ unjust In their treatment OF natives
/ whom they get under their control.
Want Syrians Expelled.
! Haitians have been clamoring for
years TO have all Syrians expelled from
the island. regardless Of their American
and French citizenship. and in support
of this demand they have pointed TO the
action of the United States in exclud-
ing Chinese. An infiammatory circular
issued in Haiti some tine ago on Syrian
| expulsion referred 10 Chinese exclusion
.arTbe President Of the Starry Republic
has not spared the Chinese to satisfy
| the desire Of his people to reclaim their
| rights. The honorable old man who d.
| TectS the- destiny OF Haiti VIII reply we
are sure 20 the complaint Of the popu-
| latiou whose sufferings reach to the
! Presidential palace. The expulsion OF
| Syrians after the formation of the ad-
i ministrative inquiry commission VIII pc
one of the most beautiful acts that the
chief Of state could accomplish.
Stone the Syrians.
Syrians are now being stoned in the
streets of Port-au-Prince. and Minister
Powell is endeavoring to afford protec-
ton to those who are American citizens.
He mas advised the Haitian governments
that all rights OF Americans must be
respected. but IN this Of this action
the Syrians have been compelled to close
their stores. and cannot venture out on
the streets.
, German subjects are also threatened
by the mObs, which are not moving
, | against Syrtans alone. Since the arrest
| of British and German subjects two
months ago for alleged completely IN a
! fraud committed on the Bank of Haiti
there has been much uneasiness IN IMAM
| cial circles, and the fc-eigners who con-
troll the finances OF the republic have
been harshly criticised. Germany caused
great excitement BY sending warships
to look after the tntereSts Ct its citizens
who were said 10 be unjust Y imprisoned
at that time
The United States has several war
ships of the Caribbean squadron within
two or three days OF Haiti, and If the
situation becomes grave the United
States will doubtless afford protection
to the foreigners whose lives are threat-
ened.