The daily worker., 1925-05-27
WITHDRAW ARMY,
.HAITIANS TELL
us. GOVERNMENT
American Imperialism,
Rules BY BayOnet

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 25.-A
petition urging that general election
Of members Of the Haitian legisa-
ture be held Jan. 10, 1926, has been
presented to Secretary Of State keL
Iogg by Pierre Hudicourt, represent
ing the Union PatrIotique D'Haitl.
Hudicourt charges that Louis 6orno,
"presldent" Of the fake government of
Haiti, is controlled by the United
States army authorities. He asked
that American military forces be with
drawn.
Writers Jailed.
Six journalists are in jail in Haiti,
says Hudicourt, at the order of "Presi-
dent" Borno, who is upheld by Ameri.
can machine guns. These news writ
ers and editors have dared to point
out that Borno's regime is one of
force, that it is unconstitutional and
in defiance of the will of the people.
One of them was jailed after print
ing an account Of the fate that be-
fell Swedish king. four centuries
ago, when he oppressed his people.
This reference to Swedish history was
called an Indictment to murder of
Borno. No indictment has yet been
lodged against any of the prisoners,
who were arrested in December and
January.
Hudicourt went to the state depart
ment, and talked with Kellogg. He
handed Kellogg a memorandum pre-
pared by the Haitian workers en-
voy, setting forth at length the facts
as to the suppression of their liber-
ties and legal rights and the need
for an order from the American mill
tary "high commissioner" to Borno
to force the holding Of elections for
the national assembly. according to
the constitution.
American Guns Control.
Smedley D. Butler, now director of
police in Philadelphia, but then major
of marines, was the officer who. in
the spring of 1917. fentered the hall
of the Haitian natiofaI assembly with
score OF armed glQdarmes and dis
persed tie member tslersof, accord
ing to this memorandum. Since 1917
council of state, whose 21 mem
bers are nominated and dismissed by
the president of Haiti, who is a pup
pet of the American commander, have
performed the legislative jobs. On
April 10, 1922, IA of these appointed
officials chose Borno as president
| for a four-year term.
| Hudicourt asks kellogg to have
Borno instructed to hold "a real cleo
tion for a constitutional legislative
body" by issuing a call on Oct. 10,
making it possible to inaugurate a
new government on Jan. 10 next. Bor-
no proposes to have his own re-elec-
ttion assured by his own hand-picked
council. He changed the constitu-
tion assured by his own hand-picked
and dismissed 7 Of his councillors be-
cause they were not loyal enough to
himself, and his masters, the U. S.
army officers.
U. S. General Rules.
"In fact" the memo explains, "the
American general now high commits
sioner to Haiti, concentrates in his
own hands all the powers Of the coun-
try. The de facto president depends
upon him for everything. Under the
provisions of an agreement signed in
1918, by Borno, then secretary Of
state, and Mr.. Bailly Blanchard, min
lister of the United States to Haiti,
no act, no law can be enacted by
the council of state without the pre-
liminary consent ofithe American le-
cation (now the American high COM
missioner). Even the nomination Of
members Of the council should receive
the previous approval of Gen. Russell. !"