Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-09-14

self In q Position TO Collect the Debt
With a Tremendous Rate of Interest.
In explaining why uai.i severed dip
lomatic relations with Germany. Scion
Menos. Haitian minister to the United
States. disclosed an interesting bit OF
diplomatic history. He shows how the
kaiser is being forced to pay the penal
ty for acts of unwarranted frightful-
ness committed against the republic
of Haiti twenty years ago.
In December, 1897, when Mr.. Menos
was minister for foreign affairs. the
German emperor forced Haiti to pay
$4,000 and humiliated the nation by
forcing profuse and ceremonial apollo
gies under threat Of bombardment Of
the National palace and the city OF
Port au Prince by German warships.
Now Haiti may force the kaiser to pay
$20000,0 600 in return. German financial
interests In Haiti make 1t easy for this
sum to be collected, 1t is explained.
German Attacks Police.
Haiti started on Sept. 81, 1897. when
Count Schwerin, the German charge
d'affaires, came to Mr.. Menos to pro-
test against the arrest by the Haitian
police Of q German named Emile Luz
ders. Luders' coachman, Dorleus Pre-
sumo, had been caught stealing. When
the police sought to arrest him the
German attacked the police and was
himself arrested.
Count Schwerin did not deny the
Justice Of the acts of the Haitian au-
thorities, but took the stand that no
German should be made amenable to
the law for ordinary people, especially
If the German happened to be man
Of Luders' standing.
Mr.. Menos told Count Schwerin that
he would do everything possible to
protect Luders' rights, but that he
could not disregard Haitian laws with
out an investigation. Meanwhile Lu-
ders was tried and found guilty and
was sentenced to imprisonment
Count Schwerin demanded a new
ders. Approaching the menacing atti-
tude Of the German diplomat, Mr.. Me-
nos arranged for new trial at once
Wakens President Sam.
Later Count Schwerin, in the full uni
form Of uhlan, galloped up to the i'm
perial palace after President Sam had
retired and demanded an audience
The count presented a demand from
the kaiser for the immediate liberation
Of Luders, the dismissal of the Judge
who had sentenced him and the punish
ment Of all the police instrumental In
bringing about his arrest.
'In the name OF my august master
the Emperor William, I will wait until
tomorrow noon for my reply" the count
said upon leaving
The Haitian authorities were astound.
ed by this action. 1t was diplomatic
usage for any foreign diplomat to COM
municate with the president through
the minister for foreign affairs. and
Menos felt deeply hurt.
But the Haitian leaders saw the dom.
ineering tactics employed by the Ger
man government and recognized the
Haitian people were absolutely at the
mercy of Germany. The American
minister, Mr.. Powell, and others coun-
seled the release of Luders as the sim
plest means of staving Off further trou-
BILE. 1t was known Germany had sew
eral cruisers In adjacent waters and
that any pretext would be seized to adj
vertise German militarism.
New Ultimatum Sent.
Accordingly the Haitian authorities
bowed to Germany's ultimatum, and
Mr.. Menos informed Count Schwerin.
The count officially declared the Incl
dent closed. but within a few hours he
received another cable from his au-
gust master" which caused him to
come post haste to Mr.. Menos.
He had been premature In accepting
Haitis, agreement to the ultimatum,
he explained, new ultimatum had
just arrived. II demanded 10000 pay
ment to I,uders, an agreement by Haiti
. to give him special privileges, an apol-
ogy by Haiti to the emperor and a
ceremonial public apology to himself
Count Schwerin by the president.
This put matters In a new light, for
Haiti could not agree to pay indem-
nifty for carrying out Its own laws
without humillating itself before Its
own people and before the world.
While these deliberations were going
on Count Schwerin Informed Mr.. Me-
nos that he was going aboard Ger
man warship and would be heard from
later. On Dec. O the German warships
Charlotte aud Stein arrived at Port au
Prince cleared for action.
A note came from Count Schwerin
saying that diplomatic relations be-
tween Germany and Haiti were severed
and would remain severed until Haiti
replied TO orders which the government
would get from the imperial naval
commander. Thiels, on board the Char
lotte.
Four hours were given Haiti to COM
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