The Washington times., 1922-05-14
Bv JOSEPHUS DANIELS
(Secrefay The NdUy In President WilsOns CabnetD
why Americans Went HaTha Question Needs to BE Answered
Before Amy Intelligent Opinion Cam BE Expressed Upon American
Occupation Ha-The United States Landed Troops There Rather
Than Permit European Government to do So.

wounded In the Presidents man.
sion. His dead body was mutt
lated and dragged about the streets
OF Port au Prince in an indescrib-
ably brutal manner. He had been
in office only four and a half
months. He was succeeded by
President Dartiguenave. Haiti had
seven Presidents in three years.
The Haitians were helpless to save
themselves from the butchery Of a
comparatively small number of
bandits who made government
crime.
READY TO LAND.
When conditions thus reached
chaos. with Haitians unable to re-
store order. the conditions pre-
sented were such that the United
States was confronted with the al
tsrnative either OF converting
chaos into order or sitting still and
letting the government of Haiti be
taken over by a European country.
That was threatened. A European
naval flag officer then in Haitian
waters declared II to be his inten-
ton to take charge of the situation
II the United States failed to DO so.
At th2 period Of tho world.
With war flaming UP. what
American would be willing to sec
q European country In control
of Islands so near US?
Why did we intervene in Cuba
in 1887 Senator Gray. Of Della
ware, gave the real reason when
he said that no man would be
justified In going all over town
trying to regulate the marital
relations of the community, but
II he lived in an apartment and
his neighbor was brutally and
cruelty beating his wife to death
and her screams startled all
living in the house. what man
could call himself q man who
did not go to tho rescue Of the
screaming woman7 That carried
US into the Spanish-American
War. It was a like reason. plus
our peculiar obligation to the
suffering Haitians. which sent
the Americans into Haiti in 1915.
MUST NOT TAKE LAND.
There are two matters con-
nected with our administration in
Haiti that have been brought
forward that demand Congress
slonal investigation and Congress
sional action to protect the honor
of the Republic. They are:
1. That by reason of American
occupation in Haiti more than
2oo,o acres Of fertile lands be-
longing to Haitians have by favor
itism passed into the hands OF
American corporations. II that
is true every acre Of such land
ought to be restored to the orig
inal owner and the blot removed
from the American escutcheoh.
The facts can easily be ascertain
ed. Senator Borah. who made tho
statement in q speech in New
York. is a vigorous fighter and
he knows how to get results. II
he will uncover any such rob-
berry Of Haitians he will be doing
q national service.
2. That the American Govern
ment is about to borrow seven or
eight million dollars in the United
States to be Haitian debt and to
saddle that on those people at
tho usurious rate of interest Of
IN per cent. All countries find
It necessary to borrow money. In
1920 the suggestion came from
Haiti that the American finan-
cial representative in Haiti be
empowered to bond a large sum
at a high rate Of interest. Tho
suggestion was not approved.
Tho money was not borrowed.
It ought not to be borrowed now
at such a rate Of interest.
We can protect Haitians from
exploitation, and must in honor
do SO without permitting any
unwarranted stain to be placed on
tho honor Of our Marines. With
very few exceptions. they are
entitled to the gratitude of both
Haitians and Americans.