The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-19
HAITI MAKING
GERMANY PAY
May Seize S2O,OOO,OOO For
Debt of $4,000.
REVENGE MANY YEARS LATE

Was Inundated at the Hands of the
Kaiser and How She Now Finds Her
self In a Position to Collect the Debt
With a Tremendous Rate of Interest.
In explaining why Haiti severed dip
lomatic relations with Germany. Scion
Menos. Haitian minister to the United
diplomatic history. He shows now tie
kaiser is being forced to pay the penal
ty for acts of unwarranted frighttuI-
ness committed against the republic
of Haiti twenty years ago.
In December, 1897, when MIR. Menos
was minister for foreign affairs. the
German emperor forced Haiti TO pay
$4,000 and 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
S2O,O00.0O0 in return. German financial
interests IN Haiti make it easy for this
sum to he collected, ii is explained
German Attacks Police.
The trouble between Germany and
Haiti started on Sept. y. 1897. when
Count Schwerin, the German charge
d'aTaires. came to Mr.. Menos to pro
test against the arrest by the Haitian
police of a German named Emile Lu-
ders. Luders' cOachman. Dorleus Pre-
sumo, had beer caught stealing. When
the police sought to arrest him the
German attacked the police and was
himself arrested.
Count Sehwerin did not deny the
justice of the acts of the Haitian au-
thorities, but took the stand that no
German should be made amenahle to
the law for ordinary people. especially
il the German happened to be ii 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
trial, with the immediate release of Lu-
ders. Approaching the menacing atti-
tude of the German diplomat, Mr.. Me
nos arranged for a new trial at once.
Wakens President Sam.
Later Count Schwerin, in the full uni
form of n uhlan, galloped up to the i'm
perial palace after President Sam had
retired aud 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
meut OF all the police instrumental in
bringing about his arrest.
"Tn the name Of my august master
he Emperor William, | will wait until
omnrrow oon for my reply" the count
aid Upon leaving.
Tie Haitian authorities were astound-
ID 10y this action. 1t was diplomatic
usage for any foreign diplomat to COM
muniCate with the president through
he minister for foreign affairs. and
Menos felt deeply hurt.
But the Haitian leaders saw the dom
i~nearing 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-
bic. 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
IIaitis agreement to the ultimatum.
he explained. A new ultimatum had
just arrived. Ii demanded $4,000 pay
ment to Luders, an agreement by Haiti
10 give him special privileges. an apol-
ogy by Haiti to the emperor and IA
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 humiliating itself before its
own people and before the world.
While these deliberations were going
on Count Schwerin informed Mr.. Me-
nos that be was going aboard a Ger
man warship and would be heard from
later. On Dec. @ the German warships
Charlotte and Stein arrived at Port au
Prince cleared for action.
A note came from Count Schwerin
saying that diplomatic relatiQns- be,