Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-09-12
HAITI MAKING
GERMANY PAY
May Seize $40, 100000 For
a Debt Of $50, 1000.
REVENGE MANY YEARS LATE

Was Inundated At the Hands OF the
Kaiser and How She Now Finds Her.
self In q Position 70 Collect the Debt
With . Tremendous Rate Of interest
In explaining why Haiti severed dip
lomatic relations with Germany, Scion
Mcnos, 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
| $50. 600 aud Inundated 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
100000 600 In return. German financial
interests In Haiti make 1t easy for this
sum TO be collected. It is explained.
German Attacks Police.
The trouble between Germany and
Haiti started on Sept 81. 1897. when
Count Schwerin. the German charge
d'atfaires, came to Mr. Menos to pro
test against the arrest by the Haitian
police OF a 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
II 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 new
trial, with the immediate release u Luz
ders. Approaching the menacing atti-
tude of the German diplomat, Mr.. Me-
nos arranged for q new trial at once.
Waksns President Sam.
Later Count Schwerin, In the full uni
form Of n uhian, galloped up to the i'm
perial palace after President Sam had
retired and demanded an audience.
The count presented 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
I'm the name of my august master
the Emperor William. / will wnk 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 coan-
| seled the release Of Luders rs the sim
! plest means Of staving of further trou-
BE. 1t was known Germany had sew
eral cruisers in adjacent waters and
| that any prefext would be seized to nd
vertise German militarism.
/ New. uitim.tum Sent.
| Accordingly the Haitian au,ho,,,,a.
| bowed TO Germany's ultimatum ana
Mr.. Menos informed Count scbverin
/ The count offic,alIv declared the Incl.
dent closed. but within . few hour. ba
received another Cable from, ..h,. an.
gust MASTER which caused him IN
| come post haste IN Mr. Menos
\