The Washington herald., 1921-12-26
HAITI HAS GREAT
NEED OF MARINES,
SAYS COMMITTEE
Senate Investigators Ask
High Commissioner
Be Named.

Continued occupation of Haiti by
American Marines and appointment
of an American high commissioner
to coordinate and supervise the
work OF American ADMINISTRATORS
provided for by the treaty Of 1913
will bs. recommended by the special
senate committee which recently
returned from a toBr Of inspection
of conditions in the island.
After the members had conferred
with Secretary of State Hughesan
Secretary of the Navv DENLY. SEN
ator Mccormick. of Illinois. chair
man of the committee. outlined the
prospective recomme ndations.
The members of the commit
tee said Senator Mccormick. ARE
unanimous in the belief that the
continued presence Of the small
American force in Haiti is as neces-
sary to the peace and development
of the country as are the services
to the Haitian government Of the
American officials appointed under
no abrogstIon of the treaty. and
at this time no diminution OF the
small force OF Marines.
New Loan NeeAsd.
1T is important that steps should
be taken forthwith to coordinate
the labors of the representatives
Of the United States government Of
Haiti and of the so-cslled Ameri-
can treaty officials There should
be appointed a special representa-
tive OF the President, a high COM
missioner in whom should be vest
ed the usual diplomatic powers of
an envoy e1traordipary. and TO
whom. Furthermore. all the Ameri-
can officials appointed under the
treaty, as well as the commsndsnt
of the Marine brigade should look
for direction and guidance. The
members OF the COMMITTEE know Of
no reason why the duties of the
of customs should not be dis
charged by one person.
They believe that there ought tC
be no further delay in the matter
of the new loan. in order that the
debt held in Europe may be dis
charged on advantageous terms q nd
the just claims OF Haitian citizens
against their own government may
be promptly paid. The interests OF
Haiti. and more particularly of the
common people Of Haiti, require
the determination of the condition,
of thee hsrter of the national bank
and the early issuance Of Subsi-
diary coinage.
~ Per Cent Cannot Read.
TT should be borne in mind that
the vast mass Of the Haitian peo-
pie, simple, kindly, gentle and gen
erous. live In, a state Of almost
primitive poverty and ignorance
For Generations there have been nc
roads in Haiti. prior to the arrival
OF the Americans in 1915. There
are few trails and few towns. There
was almost no travel and almost nc
education. The Overwhelming ma
jority Of the people-perhaps IS pei
cent OF all-cannot read or write.
All had been a prey TO the revolu-
tionary movements which swept the
country with increasing frequency,
until the massacre NJ the political
prisoners in the jail in Port su
Prince In July. 1915. was followed
by the murder OF President Sam In
the French legation by the mob,
which dragged his dismembered
trunk through the streets of Port
au Prince. while his head and limbs
were carried aloft on the bayonets
of the rioting soldiers. Under these
circumstances IL is not surprising
that naturally rich though Haiti
is in agricultural resources. exports
and revenues have fallen far be-
hind those Of Porto Rico or Cuba.
where with similar soil and like eli
mate under ordered government the
industry OF the people has produced
q great export trade.
Fsrte Rice Far Ahead.
In area, Haiti. which is three
times as large as Porto Rico and
has twice the population of Porto
Rico. IN 1919 exported products 20
the value of s2t.ooo.ooo as against
products to. the value OF $4,000. goo
exported frem Porto Rico. while in