The Washington times., 1920-09-20
us.
RULE Of HAITI
Islanders Garry Complaints Of
Financial Control TO State
Department.

InterestD associated with the Ma
tionaI City Bank In New York have
seized control OF all the resources of
Haiti. according 10 official protests
laid before the Government by an in
dignant committee OF officials from
that island
Furthermore, they are alleged TO
have held up the salaries OF the pres
ident OF the republic. all the secre-
taries, state councillors and even
that OF the palace interpreter. so that
they may obtain control of the few
remaining resources.
m these astonishing proceedings the
National City Bank people. according
TO the official documents, have had
the eager assistance OF Arthur Bztily
Blanchard, the American Minister,
and John Mcilhenny, financial adviser
from this Government TO Haiti.
The scandal arising from the oper.
ations OF the Democratic Admins
tration and the National City Bank
In Haiti have already been made an
issue OF the Presidential campaign
by Senator Harding. Moreover, IL
can be expected to grow as the more
serious facts become public.
Republican politicians In Washing
NOH Nhot th'y WIN AOt pN oAaN-
tracked from the main issue by an
investigation OF the Marine Corps.
which to all intents and purposes has
simply been doing It's duty In Haiti.
The committee from Haiti now in
Washington is headed by Chief Justice
Bonamy OF the Haitian courts, and M.
Paresil. an International lawyer noted
In Haiti IL was accompanied to the
State Department by Charles Yoravis.
the Haitian minister in Washington,
A committee OF Americans with in
terests In Haiti is also in Washing
ton making protests. II includes Ed
gar Elliott, president OF the Haitian
American Corporation, which operates
a railroad and sugar plantation; Mr..
Harris OF the American Foreign Bank
OF New York with a branch in Port au
Prince: w. Y. Bieg. vice president and
general manager of the electric COM
psny which lights Port au Prince.
and Harry Berlin, VINO has commercial
interests in that city.
AS Haiti is a member OF the Latin
American Union, the situation is al
ready having a tragic effect on Amer
ican interests throughout South and
Central America. where as result,
American motives and methods are
being viewed with the most Intensive
SUSPICION.
II would appear that shortly after
the United States assumed control OF
affairs in Haiti. the National city
Bank established branch in Port
au Prince and obtained control OF the
National Bank of Haiti. Col. John
McIlhenny, American financial adviser
to the Haitian government imme-
diately made the new bank deposit
tory for all customs duties.
AS very little money is collected
from taxes in Haiti, the National city
Bank soon became the sole financial
arbiter of the republic. Not only was
II able to control all loans to COM
mercial and agricultural interests.
but all government finances as wen.
No payments of any description what.
soever can be made by the government
without consent of the American ad-
wiser and then only through the Ma
tional City Bank.
This bank exercises absolute con-
troll over rates of exchange, and the
charge is made that through the GUS
toms service II maintains the closest
scrutiny over all imports.