The Washington herald., 1911-08-09
The Problem of Haiti.

have existed for some years in Haiti
Revolutions have followed revolutions
with lives and property sacrificed. Law
and order have been practically unknown
Just now, after another bloody uprising
there is a calm which merely presages
another storm Gen Leconte. having
driven President Simon into exile, has
been acclaimed as the head of the So
called republic, although he has men,
acing rival in the person Of Gen. Fir
min. No one knows how soon there
will be another dismal chapter in the
islands history. In the meantime. we
have five war ships patrolling Haitian
waters, while Germany has a cruiser
there, and has already landed marines.
There is throughout the country a
general demand that the United States
shall intervene in Haiti for the purpose
of permanently establishing law and or
der. We secured the expulsion of Ze-
laya from Nicaragua. we assisted Vene-
zuela in getting rid of Castro, we
successfully reorganized the financial
administration of Santo Domingo, and,
last but not least, we redeemed the
famine-stricken and oppressed Cubans
and assured for them healthy, peace
iul, and prosperous existence.
So, it is argued, we ought to do with
Haiti 1t would seem to be the logical,
sensible action.
The question arises, however. whether
We can take any steps in this direction.
No matter how periodic and distressful
may be the disturbances upon the island !;
no matter how much trouble and ex-
pense in the matter of war ship control
we may be occasioned, we are con-
fronted by the fact that we have a
solemn treaty of arbitration with this al
legged republic and that we have agreed
to submit TO The Hague Tribunal all
disputes that may arise
In the olden days, before arbitration
treaties became the fashion, we might
have claimed the right to restore peace
and order in Haiti under the Monroe
doctrine. Now, however, our hands are
tied. AT the first intimation on the part
of the United States that conditions in
Haiti are unsatisfactory, that republic,
or whoever may happen to be at the
head OF some temporarily victorious
army, can Immediately request us to go
to The Hague That would mean, of
course, that our jurisdiction on this
side of the Atlantic would be ques-
toned by foreign tribunal on foreign
soil
No wonder that while Germany lands
her marines to protect lives and prop
erty. Our sailors remain upon the decks
OF the American ships
Nor is this the end OF the chapter.
In the year 1884 the government Of
Haiti, evidently wanting funds and by
no means scrupulous as to who con-
tributed the money, proposed to sell
either the peninsula OF the Mole St.
Nicholas or the Island of Tortuga to
the French government. Instantly the
United States, through Secretary Ere
llnghuysen made known that acquisi-
ton OF Haitian territory by France
would conflict with the principles Of our
public policy known as the Monroe
doctrine" This was emphatic enough
but when rurnorS were afoat that France
proposed to establish a protectorate over
Haiti. Secretary Bayard went further
and told the French government that
the well-settled policy of the United
States would lead us to oppose any at
tempt on the part of European gov
ernment 10 extend its influence in any
portion of America"
But suppose that now, with a new
President in Haiti. whose Golfers have
been depleted by his deposed predeces-
sor, France should purchase for a good
ly sum the territory which it once de-
sired. Under the arbitration treaty with
France which has just been negotiated
by the President, and which is now be-
fore the Senate for ratification, our pro-
test would be submitted to The Hague
court or to joint high commission.
The Monroe doctrine, our inviolate ira
dition, would be dragged through the
of dispute. No one could
predict what the result would be. And,
most important of all, while the case
was pursuing its slow and tortuous way,
.here is no provision in the treaty which
would compel France to surrender her
Objectionable position.
President Taft in his speech at Noun
,aip Lake Park deprecates serious dis.