Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-14
ISLAND PEOPLE
ASK FINISHED
JOB, HE SAYS
ts '+g8s&h%
American Opposition Is
Opposed by Only Five
Per cent Of Population
Declares This Country
Must Not Turn Back
on Young Republic.

Washington, Feb. 13.-The United
States, having ''put its hand to the
plow," in Haiti, must not now turn
back through withdrawal Of the Amer
lean forces there. Rear Admiral II. Fl.
Knapp declared today in report in
which he presented in final form the
results Of his Investigations in the
island republic for the navy and state
departments.
Agitation against the American oc-
cupation Of Haiti. Admiral Knapp as
serted, is inspired by desire on the
part of a small group. who, he said,
represented at the most, less than 5
per cent of the population. This
group of agitators, he added, are work.
ing to gain hearing and the sym
pathy of the people Of the United
States, although their real object is to
obtain abrogation of the treaty between
bring about return of the old condi
tions of government.
Want Good Order
"Could this be attained Admiral
Knapp continued, II think that 800 out
Of every Haitians would be glad to see
the American forces remain to enforce
good order. In other words the Halt
ians even the worst agitators among
them, would be willing to have the
United States act the part Of police
man and otherwise leave them to their
own devices.
",The 95 per cent would be exploited
for the dishonest benefit of the per
cent if these ends were attained. The
% per cent would enjoy less real
freedom than they do now Should
the United States now withdraw. leav-
ing the political agitators to their own
devices. il would, in my opinion, be
surrendering the true interests and
true freedom of 95 per cent Of the
population and encouraging the un-
worthy minority to 60 on with it's dis
honest, arbitrary methods. While it
is probably possible to state that graft
does not now exist, it is concealed
graft unknown to the United States
treaty officials.
Not Real Republic
The people of the United States
the admiraTs report said, "should got
allow themselves to be deceived by the
words republic of Haiti into believing
that there exists in Haiti, or overseas,
republic in any sense. founded upon
the expressed will Of an intelligent and
educated electorate. The so-called
republic Of Haiti. left to itself has been
tyrannical oligarchy in which those
in power fattened upon the vast mass
Of the population; while those of the
governing class out Of power sought
every opportunity to get into power. by
fair means or foul, with the same cor-
rupt personal ends in view. Any idea
of Haiti conceived on the basis Of the
surroundings Of the average citizen of
the United States-who is more or less
educated and who lives under regime
Of law which makes impossible his
being exploited by governing class
and insures security Of his life and
property-is utterly false under the
actual conditions, as is judgment Of
happenings in Haiti founded upon such
an idea. Tranquility and security low
exist in Haiti practically throughout
the country. From all that can gath |
err. persons can move about the re-
public on their lawful occasions with
out fear Of molestation. This is the
direct result Of armed American in
tervention," |