New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
Picking on Small Nations
Wilson Words Us. Wilson Acts in
Hauti and Santo Domingo

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Senator Root at Carnegie Hall
last evening drew a parallel between
President Wilson's address of May 81.
1919, to the Rumanian and Serbian
delegates and "the guarantees which
we have seen in Hayti and Santo
Domingo" Mr. Root further said:
THE exercise of such superiority of
power by the strong over the weak as
Mr.. Wilson described to the Rumanans
and Serbians is inconsistent with that
independent and equal condition of the
nations upon which alone can true
league for progress toward peace be
based'
President Wilson during the first
fortnight of his administration, in
March, 1918, addressed a declaration of
principles to the peoples of Latin
America as follows:
"One of the chief objects Of my ad-
ministratlon will be to cultivate the
friendship and deserve the conhdcrce Of
our sister republics of Central and South
and honorable way the interests which
are common to the peoples OF tho two
continents. I earnestly desire the most
cordial understanding and cooperation
between the peoples and leaders OF
America and, therefore. deem 1t my duty
to make this brief statement.
Cooperation is possible only when
supported at every turn by the orderly
processes of just government based upon
force. We hold, as am sure all thought
full leaders OF republican government
everywhere hold. that just government
rests always upon the consent of the
governed. and that there can be no free
dom without order based rpon law and
upon the public conscience and approval.
From these principles may be read 70
much OF the future policy OF this gov
ernment as 1t Is necessary now to fore
cast, and IN the spirit OF these princi-
pies l may. hope. be permitted with
as much confidence earnestness to ex-
tend to the governments OF all the re-
publics OF America the hand OF genuine
disinterested friendship, and to pledge
my own honor and the honor OF my col
leagues 70 every enterprise Of peace and
arnity that fortunate future may dis
close"
John Barrett, former head Of the PAN
American Union, apropos of General
Rarnett's charges of conditions in Hayti,
has recently stated:
There Is hardly responsible news
paper in all Latin America that has not
serIously criticized the policies and meth
ods of the United States IN these coun-
tries [Hayti ard Santo Domingo1. and
the reports OF It's administration are al
ways providing ammunition for anti
United States agitators and critics TO
attack the deserving principles OF prac-
ticai Pan n-Americanism, which are en-
titled to the support OF every American
nation and people"
Hayti Is now in the public eye. but
the field for investigation is even more
ripe in Santo Domingo. The Navy De-
partment justifes its occupation of
Santo Domingo on the ground of the
public Improvements started and that
the affairs Of the country are now con-
Quoted better than the natives could
manage them.
That statement IS absolutely correct.
But wasn't that the boast Of the Ger
mans in Belgium? And how does it
square with the promise of "self-deter-
mination for small nations"?
In Hayti the occupation by our naval
forces is now sanctioned by treaty
negotiated and obtained after the conn
try was occupied. That treaty gives
the United States plenary powers 20 DO
about everything. 1t would hardly be