The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-09
HAITI COMMISSION To ASK
WITHDRAWAL Of j. s. FORCE
CHARGE Marines
WITH CRUELT|ES
OF MANY KINDS
Will Tell Harding Admiral
Knapp Whitewashed
Accusations

------
WashinSton, MAY S.--IT,arging 4 long
series o. atrocities By American marines
and the native gendarmerie IN Haiti and
demandin ng the withdrawal OF the United
States military forces from Taat repuo-
Iir, three Haitian delegates are IN W ASH =
ingtrn to present 4 memoria! 10 FTesI-
don't Harding tho state department. and
congress-.
The memorial was made public to-
nj ght by the delegates. 1t reviews the
h~e years Of military occupation or
Haiti and declares that 1t Is the mos,
terrible regime o: military autocracy
which has ever been carried on In the
name OF the great democracy.
The naval investigation OF conditions
in THE replb.ic ordered by Secretary
nenie.s las. year and conducted by a
acse..zed az a Joke" ond Reod Admiral
Knapp "a accused OF hniug done moth
ing at all" when he visited Haiti under
orders, rrru: Secretary Daniels to make
personal inquiry.
The Haitian people feel" says the
memorial that Z :Ae naval court Of
inquiry has not fulfilled IN Haiti the
broad rnanda::e conferred upon II BY Mr..
Joscphus Daniels, L Is because 4 was
taced with charges or such horrible
nature that It thought best 70 pass them
over in silence.
crreltass Charged
Among the acts charged, against the
American occupation Of Haiti are:
Administration Of the water cure'
ard other tortures by American offices
and marines and the commission OF
..-- nrtr nF
whctn twenty-five cases. with names
and da;ss are given IN the memorial.
Removal, Of 100000 Of Haitian gov
erpmcat funds which American martneS
carried or :'and took on board of gun
boat Maeh4a s. and which were deposit
cd n a New York bank to force the
IIaItian government to accept control Of
the custom houses by systematically de-
prIvins x of financial resources"
Entrance OF Rr!Gad!e- General Stned-
le,- IN the Butler on June l% 1871, re-
vclve- in hand. followed by American
officers arrei with their revolvers." IN
:, the. Aaitinn legislative chamber and
desolutkrn by force. OF the Haitian !esis-
,atiVc assembly.
Enforced ratification on June -. 1915,
OF r. Rex Haitian constitution. with
marines presiding at tho ballot boxes.
only ballots bearing the word yes be-
Ing issued.
Exclusion fron>the naval court Of in-
Spsr-" a!s AL Hai.Isn- Tno ha3 anything
to, say sesAr&ng the numerous cases Of
murder. brutality, rape. arson, c:c.. that
is. to Haft.ans who wishe& 10 convince
the court oc ihap4fyA of. tbe' WAY In
which the forcss OF occupation had car
Ned out thir duty.an Haiti"
AiIsgs QAaSely mortality.
Furthermore. II Is charged that more
than 1000 prisoners died in 1918. 1919
and 1890 at the prisons at Cape HaItien
and that at Chabert. an American camp,
S,4f5 prisoners died during these three
years. =:
The shastiy Enortanty In the prisons
continued the memorial, together with
confirmation by survivors reveals q
record OF atrocities Of brutality and
cruelty which def1es description. II Is
Il record for which Ct would be difficult
20 find a parallel
The mepor!al concludes by stating
that during the five years Of American
occupation Of Haii has passed through
such sacrifices, kortures, distinctions.
Eun,iiations andEm!scry as have never
before been known In the course o. It's
unh"ppy history"
For these wrongs and injuries" the
HsiEian peone ask reparatton. sa;.s the
merurial and. they also request:
Immediate abolition Of martial law
and court morttals.
lmmSdate reorganization Of the
TIaitian police and military forces, and
withdrawal withan q short period Of the
American military forces.
AbroSaton OF the convention Of 1915
unte- which American military occupa-
t!on began.
ConVocation within n short period o. 4
constituent assembly with all guaran-
tecs Of ELECTORAL liberty.
The Dstagssss.
The Haitian delegates sent here to
rreses* the memorial are II. Pauleus
Sannon. former Haitian secretary for
foreign affadrs and once Haitian minis
teri the, United States; stenc- Vincent,
former president OF .the Haitian senate
and PeHcival Tloby. former Haitian
charge d affairs at Washington. They
represent tho Patriotic Union Of Haiti
'PA1KHRS0u1R; 1oT sU1cID1s.