The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-11
Haitians Accuse Americans OF
''the Most Terrible Regime OF
Military Autocracy" in
History Of Country
PEOPLE ASK PREPARATION
OF UNITED STATES
Delegation to Present Memorial
to President Harding. Names,
Dates and Places Are Cited.

Washington, May S.-Charg;ng a
long series OF atrocities by American
marines and the native gendarmerie
in Haiti and demanding the WITH
drawal Of the United States military
forces from that republic, three Hal
tan delegates are in Washington to
present a memorial to President Hard
ing, the state department and con-
gress.
The memorial was made public to-
night by the delegates. 1t reviews the
five years Of military occupation of
Haiti and declares it is the most ter
rible regime of military autocracy
which has ever been carried on in the
name of the great American democ-
racy.'
The naval investigation of condi-
tons in the republic ordered by Sec
retary Daniels last year and con-
dutted by board under Rear Admiral
Mayo is characterized as a Joke" and
Rear Admiral Knapp accused Of hav-
ing done nothing at alp' when he
visited Haiti under orders of Secre-
tary Daniels to make a personal in
quiry.
1.-The Haitian people feel" says the
memorial that if the naval court of
inquiry has not fulfilled in Haiti the
broad mandate conferred upon it by
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, it is because it
was faced with charges Of such a hor-
rible ntaure that it thought best tc
pass them over IN silence
Among the acts charged against the
American occupation Of Haiti are:
Administration Of the water cure
and other tortures by American Off
GERS and marines and the commission
of "numberless abnominabie crimes
Of which twenty-five cases, with
names and dates are given in the
memorial
Removal of 100000 Of Haitian
funds which American marines carried
off and took on board the gunboat
MachiaS, and which We're deposited in
a New York bank to force the Hal
tan government to accept control of
the custom houses by Systematically
depriving it Of financial resources.
Entrance by Brig. Gen. Smedley d.
Batter. June 19, 1917, With revolver
in hand, followed by American Off
GERS armed with their revolvers,' into
the Haitian legislative chamber and
dissolution by force of the Haitian
legislative assembly.
Enforced ratification. June u, 1913.
of a new Haitian constitution, with
marines presiding at the ballot boxes.
only ballots bearing the word yes
being issued.
Witness Exlucdcd. Is Charge
Exclusion from the naval court Of
inquiry of all Haitians who had any
thing to say regarding the numerous
cases of murder, brutality, rape, ar
son. etc. is OF Haitians who wished
to convince the court of inquiry of
the way in which the forces OF occu-
patton had carried out their duty in
Haiti
Furthermore it is charged that
more than 1000 prisoners died in
1918. 1919 and 1920 in the prisons at
Cap Haitian, and that at Chabert. an
American camp, 5,475 prisoners died
during these three years.
The ehastly morality in III" pIl-
sons, continues the memorial. TO-
gether VITA confirmation by survivors,
reveals record of atrocities. Of bru-
tality and cruelty which defies de-
scription. 1t is record that it would
be difficult to find parallel.
The memorial concludes by stating
that during the five years Of Ameri-
can occupation, Haiti has passed
through such sacrifices. tortures de-
s,ruction. humi iations and misery as
have never before been known in the
course Of its unhappy history.
For these wrongs and injuries.
the Haitian people ask PREPARATION
says the memorial, and they also re-
quest Haitian police and military
forces. and withdrawal within a short
period Of the American military
forces.
Abrogation OF the convention Of
1915 under which American military
occupation began.
Convocation within short period OF
a constituent assembly with all guar
4ntecS OF electoral liberty.
The Haitian delegates sent here TO
present the memorial are II. rauleuS
Sannon. former Haitian S;-oretary for
foreign affairs and once Haitian min
lister to the United StacS; Stenlo NNn-
cent. former president of the Haitian
Senate, and Perccval Thoby. former
Haitian charge d'affaires at Washing
ton. They represent the Patriotic
Union Of Haiti, described as non-par-
tisan organization founded at Port Au
Prince in 1920, in which. it is claim
ed. every one of Ha;ti.s twenty! ne
districts is represented.