Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
Did Not Threaten Massacre
Of, Foreigners.
REPORT FROM POWELL
AMERICAN MINISTER 1NvEsT1-
GATES THE CURRENT RUMoR.
The President Of Haiti Declares That
he Will Prevent Disorder
Anti-Syrian Feeling.

Gen. NOrd never threatened to repeat the
terrible massacre ,of foreigners In Haiti In
1904. according to United States Minister
Powell. who had the denial from the Presi-
dents own lips. The minister made this
sensational report the basis of special In
quiry. the result OF which he has communf'
Gated to the State Department
He says that August l several Ameri-
can merchants informed him that President
Nord had made such a threat In pubic
audience. AS the report caused great
alarm in all classes, Minister Powell. at the
request of the merchants. saw the presiden,
and asked as to the truth of the report
President Nord's Statement.
He replied that at the audience held on
that day no statement Of that character
was made. What he did say was III the
republic desired to free itself from debt
If prosperity was to take the place of the
present state the republic was In. there
must be harmony, there must be union
and the whole Haitien family should lay
aside their petty Jealousies and unite as
one man, as their fOrefathers did In the
period of their independence in 1904. The
country was rich, was fertile; they could
produce more cotton, more coHee. more
cocoa; the resources of the country could
be trtpled to what 1t now produced. In
order to do this there must be unity of
purpose. the whole Haitien family work
ing to this end as one man; II they did
not cease their internal strife before they
knew 1t their country would be lost to
them. and this land of their birth handed
down to them by the glorious defenders
of their liberty. the founders of their in
dependence, would be lost to them. As
for myself, am ready to make any sac
rihce that you, my people, may ask of me
n foV 10 ond
Report Spread by Enemies.
General Nord further said that this re-
port had been spread by his enemies, es-
pecially by those who were seeking the re-
lease Of those imprisoned for defrauding the
government, whom he determined not to
release until they were proven innocent.
Their friends had written him promise
to make no claim against the Haitien gov
eminent If he would release the prisoners.
The trials were delayed a month owing to
an appeal taken by the prisoners counsel
to the supreme court
Reverting to, this supposed threat to re-
that any man. black or white. who made
such statement in the present day would
be worse than a fool; the condition of the
world in 1904, was far in advance of what
1t was in 1904. and as long as he was
president he would protect all who lived
in Haiti. He authorized Minister Powell
to assure all foreigners that he was pre-
pared to suppress any disorder. and would
do so himself in person If necessary. Al
Minister Powells suggestion he had re-
pealed the decree requiring of importers
the payment of % per cent of the impor
tax in the fractional coin Of the country
The Ant-Syrian Movement.
Under date Of August 2. 3 and Minister
Powell gives in great detail an account OF
the anti-syrian movement. He says the
trouble ofiginatedin the market where a
soldier. having made some purchases. for
which he rendered a dollar, was refused
change. The market dealers stood to-
gether and attacked the soldiers one OF
whom was killed in the melee, and for
time the situation looked very dangerous
as the soldiers comrades came from the
barracks fully armed only to be met by a
fully armed police force. Minister Powell
FASTENED to General Ferere, the minister for
foreign affairs, and demanded protection
for the Syrians, who were principally nat
uralized Americans.
He was told that the disorders were ow-
ing to enemies of the government and espe-
ciaIly to the friends of the Haitien bank
prisoners President Nord said that be-
fore he would release these prisoners with
out trial he would cut his own throat Min
lister Powell reminded the president that he
was in part responsible. because while tour
ing the city the previous day the president
had been greeted by the mob with cries OF
.sViye la Gen Nerd," "A bas estrangers
and "a bas les Syrians.
Cen Nord said that he had not heard the
cry of Down with the strangers or he
would have stopped it, and he promised
full protection to the foreigners in Haiti.