Evening star., 1921-05-20
Editorial Digest
Haitian CHARGES Renewed,

~AsAssAA A6VC 1CuC"Vus
Without in any way plagiarizing
the language of the diplomats. Secre-
| tary of the Navy DENLY has given an
/ answer to the charges Of brutality
outlined by the Haitian delegates
| 'memoriar which seems to have
found wide favor in the American
press The Secretarys same old rot"
| as Characterization of the accusa-
tions Of oppression and murder filed
against the occupying marines still
stationed in Haiti does not. however,
entirely dispose of the charges, in the
opinion or some writer's. who feel
that thorough investigation is need
take the specific allegations very seri-
ously. few newspapers. refusing to
commit themselves on this point, OBJ
Ject to the secrecy" which they as
the island republic.
.Comprehensive, but not convinc-
ing. Is the comment of the Wichita
Eagle independently on the phrase of
dismissal. 1t continues:
any strong nation that imposes its
Will upon weak nation by force of
arms is a target for accusations. -
Military occupation of d weak nation
oy strong nation is wrong in it.
self. and the preaching of the doc
trine of the rights Of small nations
does not absolve the strong nation
from blame. The United States should
withdraw its armed forces from Haiti
and Santo Domingo"
IN pleading for an investigation
some writer's admit the possibility
nave erred on the side of overgentle-
ness in dealing with the Haitians.
says the Syracuse Post-Standar (re-
pubiican):
They punished brigandage swiftly
and terribly. We do not need another
investigation to learn wherein our ad-
mlnlstration in Haiti has been lack
ing in humanity and enlightenment.
we know Its weaknesses. The re-
qulrement Of the situation is military
admlnlstrat1on at once firm and kind.
and. above all. understanding. II
as result of the revelations made
TINS administration has not been in
stItuted. it should be without delay"
The Buffalo Commercial Gndepend-
enD: calling attention to the state
ment in the memorial that our last
investigation was "a joke" demands
that "if the Daniels inquiry did not
go far enough. another should be in
stltuted. for our marines had "an
tives. and. 'spurred on by the atroci-
ties among the islanders, probably
were severe in their treatment at
times" The Boston Herald Gnde
penueHt repuDi1canl, Wh1le II does
not assume that all the charges in
the Haitian memorial are well found
ed feels that they are grave enough
and serious enough to call for search
ing investigation.
The Oklahoma City Oklahoman
(democratic) thinks that the Haitian
appeal cannot be ignored. but be-
cause of the non-partisan representa-
tion and the high caliber of the per-
sonnel Of the delegation. deserves an
investigation" The st. Louis Globe
Democrat (republican) thinks the
public mind inclined to credit some
of the charges" because of President
Hardings remarks on the subject be-
fore his election. and this. added to
is open to the suspicion of bias"
makes it duty for Congress Ito
ascertain the truth and clear the
whole matter up
That America should be glad to
accede to the request from the dele
gates is taken for granted by the
Grand Rapids Press independently.
for ''it would seem that if We are
to be considered competent to ex-
ercise a protectorate over Haiti We
should give respectful attention to
Haiti's domestic problems"
large part of the press. however.
Is satisfied with the Secretary's COM
ment on the situation. The Youngs-
town Vindlcator tdemocratlc), 1o1
example. feels that "he knows what
he's talking about" and the Adrian
Telegram GndependenD alludes to the
charges as more Haitian nonsense"
explaining its remark by saying that
the Haitian politician is not to be
believed" The Canton News dem
ocratic) puts the burden of proof on
the accusers and declares that "the
average citizen of the United States
will accept the opinion of Secretary
DENLY until he has been con-
WINGED by indisputable evidence. OBJ
tained through reputable agencies.
that the charges of the Haitian del
egation have foundation"
Fairness and decency marked the
work of our representatives in Haiti.
the Indianapolis Star Gndepe ndent
republican, believes and the burden
Of Haitian complaint probably is in
dicated in the final contention that
that country is entitled to repara-
tions" while the News independently
of the same city. asserts that the
character of the appeal ''is not likely
to command the attention OF many
Americans. except as evidence that
insidious influences are at work it
refers earlier to accounts in radical
American weekliesD to rob the Hal
tians Of the benefit Of American su-
pcrvision.