The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-09-07
Haiti and Protectorates

WASHINGTON has given the Haitian senate
w until week from next Friday to take def
mite action on the, proposed Amercan-Haitian
Treaty, although no announcement of policy in
the event of Haitian refusal to enter into the pro-
posed agreement has been made. Haiti has sim
ply be left to determine for herself what will
happen
The American proposal is that the United States
be given authority over the Haytian customs and
general finances somewhat similar to those exer-
csed by the United States in the neighboring Re-
public of Santo Domingo, and that, in addition,
the United States organize and officer Haitian
constabulary along the lines of the Philippine Con
stabuary. In the meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Cap
erton is preserving order with his marines, being
in virtual possession of the country and so firmly
entrenched as to enable him to declare martial law,
as he did last week
Discussing the Haitian situation and the subject
of protectorates generally, Albert Bushnell Hart,
professor Of government Of Harvard University
says:
1.-The government of the United States for many
years did not like 'protectorates' and spheres of
influence and other phrases which cover the in
tentiOn Of governments to exercise influence in
the affairs OF a weak state without formal anncXa-
ton. The British were twenty-five years in Egypt
before they acknowledged the truth that the Coun-
try was really one of their colonies. The United
States in 1893 had similar chance to annex Cuba;
but by the famous Teller resolution announced
in advance that the people of that island should
have an opportunity to frame their govern
ment. When the time came, however, the United
States was not willing to leave the Cubans free t"
drift int, he hand COfa ofh there
fore, by the Plat amendment, laid down condi
tions which the Cubans had to accept. Cuba is
therefore not independent country, but pro-
tectoratc of the United States. The Cuban gov
eminent make treaty and incur no debt
which would interfere with interests of the Uni
ted States One Of the Plat resolutions allowed
the United States to send troops if necessary to
keep order. 1t was done in 1906, and for two
years the regular Cuban government
pended.
THAT is perfectly clear and open arrangement
understood on both sides; not with the two ad-
ditional protectorates which have recently been
created The attempt of Great Britain, Germany
and Italy to use force against Venezuela in 1902
reused President Roosevelt to a weak spot in the
Monroe Doctrine: Since the United States does
not permit other powers to occupy the territory
of Latin American state, is not this country
bound to be an international policeman and to
the big stick on countries that will pay their
debts?
Roosevelt had reason to believe in 1906 that
certain foreign powers were on the point of selz-
ing ports of Santo Domingo. because their citizens
could not collect money lent to the Dominican
government He therefore took upon himself the
great responsibility OF making an agreement with
the Dominican dictator at that time by which the
custom house was put in charge OF representa-
tive OF the United States. Forty-hve per cent of
the proceeds paid over to the Dominicans
who liked that arrangement because they got more
cash than when they thought they were getting
it all 1t pleased Observation-Disclosures because the Uni
ted States recognized that $l5oO0OOO out OF the
nominal debt of $32OOOOO0 was legitimate and
the ty-6ve per cent of the proceeds pays interest
and something on the principal. The government
in Washington liked il because it cleared zip. a