New-York tribune., 1922-04-02
Haytii S Stagnation
Union Patriotique Spokesman Attributes 1t to Numbing
Effect of Military Occupation
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In a recent statement Roger
Farnham, vice-presidcnt Of the Ma
tionai City Bank, declares that in Hayti
all matters Of business and finance are
at standstill. The statement is true,
but the explanations which Mr. Farm
ham gives deserve correction and com
pletion. Only so can the public have a
fair idea Of what is going on now in
Hayti-
Like Mr.. Farnhsm, come from
there. Elected executive of the Union
Patriotique Of Hayti, the great assoca-
ton which seeks from the government
and the Congress Of the United States
rc-establishment Of Haytian independ-
cnce and sovereignty, my only intent in
coming here is to inform public opin.
ion on the situation Of my country and
to learn exactly what is to be done
here about it.
To believe Mr.. Farnham, if Haytian
business is inert and paralyzed it is
by reason Of the fear everywhere Of
the withdrawal of the expeditionary
forces Of the United States. This is
not entirely the case. Mr.. Farnham
last year himself affirmed before the
Senatorial committee investigating af-
fairs in Hayti that the maintenance of
the occupation had become impossible
because the military regime had not
known how to build or reconstruct any,
thing since the country Ind been COM
pletely pacifed.
The majority of Haytians agree with
this statement. What some of them
seem to consider as o subject Of fear
is not the withdrawal Of marines. i ia
the danger Of troubles which would fol-
low this immediate and unprepared
withdrawal. 1t is a chimerical fear.
since there has never been a question
Of an operation Of this nature. In ask
ing the evacuation of our land we were
AL OF the opinion that it would not
take place except after the reconstitu
ton Of Hsytian public force, capable
OF maintaining order and security.
Inc menace Of an imaginary peril
would not suffice for explaining the
stoppage Of business.
The true cause Of this stagnation. in :
dependent of economic matters, rests
IN the uncertainty which the ambigu-
Gus politics of tho United States in
stills into all spirits No one can saw
where we arc being led and what will
happen to Hayti. We do not perceive
any logical connection between the dec
laration Of principles of Statesmen en- snd
the acts which they prescribe, which
they advise and approve--notablv be-
tween the solutions which should ot.
rect the facts revealed by the publica
'lon OF tho secret correspondence of
the Navy Department, the depos:tions
OF Rear Admiral Caperton and of the
other agents Of tho occupation. which
confirm them, and the conclusions
reached in anticipation by the Sena-
! torial committee.
Why, before having finished their in
vestigations and receiving all the Re sti-
mony, did the Senators Judge It ncc-
essary to state conclusions? Why. he
fore their complete report. did thew
IND 1t necessary to publish a prelm-
mary report? Why, in this period of
waiting, send to Hayti High Com
missioner with power over military and
civil officers Of the United States. rs
well as over local authorities?
Why, finally, when the comm;ssion
declares the country enjoys profound
peace is it kept under vieorous
regime Of martial law, to the point
where, in the week following NV de-
partore, tho military court at Port an
Prince condemned to six months A.
hard labor and a fne Of $500 phitea 9
LemAire, publisher of the "Cour;er
Hsytfen," on the charge that he had
announced, according to public re-
port, that n Haytian lieutenant Of
gendarmerie, accused Of having beaten
and hanged man, had been brought