New-York tribune., 1920-12-03
liaytialn Inquiry
Involves MANY
knotty Issues
Congress Faces Difficult
Problem il Demands of
the Republics President
for investigation Are Met
Politics a Main Factor
Wide Nariances in View
points on All Sides of
Controversy Emphasized
By Wilbur Forrest


PORT-AU-PRINCE. Hayti, Nov. 2S.
A Congressional inquiry into the
charges made by President Dartigue-
nave against American officials sent
here TO administer the Haytian-Amer-
ican treaty of 1915 would be full Of
Er0biems
To si;t the wheat from all the chafY
will mean an intricate knowledge OF
the various shades Of tropic politics.
poss bly, historical and psycho-ana-
lyticai study of witnesses, along with
the knack OF knocking vari-colored
1umors and reports together to sec
N-n'ch one breaks
Pcrt-au-Prince is at present city Of
intricate prejudices, inside politics
American ard Haytian--the color line
and viewpoints. During my compara-
lively brief stay in Port-au-Prince
have been befuddled. by Viewpoints
The most important group Of view
points hinges upon the American occu-
patton. There are three distinct Hay
tan viewpoints.
]. Ninety-seven per cent Of the Hay
tians. who are mostly iliterHte, if
concerned at all are hetter satisfied
With American occupat on than they
were in the days when feverish poll
abundant crop OF tropical fruit on
which they mainly live.
Politicians Dissatisfied
. The Hayti politician, who finds
the Americans presence here interfer-
lng with "the system" is naturally dis
satisfied. and doubtless he would like 20
throw all the Americans into the Carib-
bean Sea. He, however, represents the
sentiment among less than / per cent
of Hayt.'s highly educated 3 per cent
3. he third Haytian viewpoint is
that of the solid professional business
man and citizen, who has seen the
turbulent plight of his little country
except when he has been in France
taking degrees from French univers-
ties-for years and realizes that the
American control established under
fair Interpretation of the treaty of
1915 is the only immediate hope for
Hayti's pro sDerity, tranquility and gen
eral development. He wants treaty CO.
operation.
There are three American view
points
l. TIE military viewpoint of the oc-
cupational force is the military view
point the world over 1t stands for law
and order and sometimes is not par
;lcuiar how the ends are arrived at
tians appear mainly to have been the
unsentle but universal military habit
OF dealing with all those VINO take up
z.rn's aga inst low and order.
The military as just brought about
Law ard ordrr II Hayti by the exterm;-
nation of bush b ndits Some unjustifed
killings reported ere in no way regard
cd in .hc military viewpoint as reflect
ing on 0ther than individuals who oc-
casiorallv run amuck in any military
organ rization.
2 A second American viewpoint is
that of the American business man, who
wants all the commercial advantages
that TIE country can give him. Some
times he may talk through his own
pccketbook rather than in favor of
economic development OF the country
in which Re has adopted a business
career. That is true Of business the
world over However, have found
amorg Americans in business in Hayti
OF TIE country. which is, of course,
linked with the greater advantages in
the development of their business. ,
l. S. OFFICIALS Tranquil
8. The lasr American viewpoint is
that OF American officials sent here by
the Wilson Administration to admin
'ster the treaty There is abundant
evidence that these gentlemen consider
It beneath their dignity to cooperate
much with or even be very pleasant
TO the local government, and on oc-
casions have felt tranquil in overstep-
ping their treaty privileges.
have talked to many people in the
capital Of Hayti, among them the edu-
Gated Haytians and Americans, both
civil and military From the mass Of
viewpoints I have found certain
agreement on what appears to be the
most important phase Of our whole
problem in Hayti-our treaty obiiga-
tons. There seems to be universal
ais atisfaction with the manner in
which the Haytians have been treated
in the observance of Uncle Sans SOL
ena pledges. The following observa-
tons Of w f Pleo, formerly Of Wash