Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-28
Group Asks Self
Government for
Haitian People

eminent to the daltidH peoPie anu
the immediate withdrawal of Amerl-
can military forces from the island
country, we're made to Secretary
Hughes today by committee OF
lawyers and representatives OF the
Foreign Policy Association, of New
York, and the National Popular Gov
eminent League, of Washington.
A report was submitted signed by
"a lawyers in which it was charged
that the seizure by the United States
of the Republic of Haiti was in vio-
lation of our constitution, our treat
les, and of international law" The
report further charged that the action
of this government in maintaining a
mandate" over Haiti. constituted
"usurpation of power through mere
executive action unauthorized by
law" and that the honor and good
name" Of the United States required:
1.-THE immediate abrogation by the
United States of the Treaty of 1915,
Internationally and without qualifi-
cation.
1.-THE holding of elections OF rep
resentativcs to the legislative BODIES
of Haiti and of President by the
free will of the people at an early
day.
"The negotiation of new treaty
with new Haitian administration
for friendly cooperation between the
United States and Haiti upon such
terms as shall be mutually satsfac-
tory to both countries and by the
methods that obtain between free and
independent sovereign states
The report with an address, which
was presented to Secretary Hughes
by Attorneys Louis Marshall of New
York, Moorfield Storey, of Boston,
and Michael Francis Doyle, of Phil
adelphia, was signed by Frederick A.
Henry of Cleveland; Frederick Baus-
man, of Seattle; John p. Grace, of
Charleston, S. c.; William H. Byrnes,
of New Orleans; Nelson Spencer, of
New York; Alfred Bettman, OF Gin
cinnati; Herbert j. Friedman and
William II. Holly, of Chicago; F. +.
Kane and NJ. F. Doyle, of Philadel-
phia; Adelhcrt Mott, Buffalo; Jack
son II. Ralston, Washington; Tyrrell
Williams, st. Louis; Richard w.
Hale and Noorftcld Storey, Boston,;
Felix Frankfurter and J. Chafee, Jr.,
Cambridge; Walter l.. Flory, Cleve-
land; and c. c. birmingham, Ray
mond E. Fosdick, Charles p. How
land, George w. KirchWey, Jerome
S. Hess and Louis Marshall, of New
York.
A committee from the National
Popular Government League, con-
sisting of Senator owen, Okla homa,
its President; j. II. Ralston, Wash
ington; DR.. John A. Ryan, Catholic
University; Samuel Gompers, Pres
ident, American Federation of Labor;
Charles Edward Russell and Henry
A. Slattery, filed with Mr.. Hughes at
the same time the lawyers report
was presented, the address which
supported the report by the Foreign
Policy Association.
The address signed by members of
the league from various sections of
the country charged that the diplo-
matte and military forces of the
United States were being used to
permit the economic, industrial and
Santo Domingo by leading New York
banking interests" Among the sig
natories to the address were William
Kent, former Representative from
California; Louis i. Post, former
Assistant Secretary of Labor; Frank
Morrison, Secretary of the American
Federation of Labor and William II.
Johnston, President of the Internal
tional Association of Machinists.
The leagues address and the as
sociation's report both protested
what was described as the govern
mcnt's attempt to force n loan from
American bankers upon the Haitians
against their will" and the league it
self charged that the "chief purpose
of sending Brigadier General Russell,
a few weeks ago, clothed with. the
hitherto unhcard of powers. to Haiti,
was to coerce the Haitian govern
ment into granting the American fl
nancial advisor, John A. McIllhenny,
a power to make this loan on any
terms he saw fit"
This procedure, the address fur
thor charged, is a repetition of the
old imperialstic trick of accomplish
ing what the diplomats call a fat
accompli, to be followed by the
claim that we cannot relinquish our
control because our national interests
are at stake" The lawyers report
stated that since the treaty and
present Haitian government "are lille
gal. no negotiation should take place
which involves the future of Haiti
or which in any material respect
could affect its future"
The report of the 81 lawyers, which
covers the essential phases of the
rela tions between the United States
and Haiti from 1904 to date. was said
to take as basic authority facts
brought out at the hearings before
the senate select committee last Oc-
tober when an inquiry under a sem
ate resolution was made into condi-
tons attending the occupation and
administration by this government
of Haiti and San Domingo.
Described as a brief for the Amer
lean people rather than for tho people
of Haiti. the address declares that
with this administration rests the