Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-06
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY. PAUL z. COLLINS.

threatening our 1858 Marines. We
killed 1,5O0 Haitians-a few more than
one apiece for our ,force-and the re-
volt was suppressed
+ *s*5* =
If there was ample justification for
that intervention, what was lacking IN
the agreement between President Roose-
welt land the President of Santo
Domingo in 1905, whereby the United
States became receiver" of the revenues
of that country, took over the collection
of the taxes and customs. eliminated
graft and so Increased the revenues
that the country was lifted out of its
bankrupt state? It is noteworthy that
in all of President Roosevelt's admins
tration not a single hostile shot was
ever fired, whether in interventions or
otherwise. ~
True the political condition of Santo
Domingo continued disturbed, until in
1918, when the Wilson administration
sent three agents to supervise the cleo
| tions-somewhat after the style OF
President Coolidge's supervision OF
elections next month in Nicaragua.
In 1915. Secretary of State. Lansing
gave the Wilson ultimaturn. that, Santo
Domingo must accept the financial ad-
wiser appointed by the United States,
who was given control Of all receipts
and expenditures. Also the complete
suppression was demanded OF the ma.
tive army and republican guard and
the substitution of a conStabulary, with
American officers. Space limits pre-
vent details of the other steps OF ag-
erosion and dictatorship supported by
American war vessels and the Marines.
It took four years of negotiations, be-
gun by Presidents Harding and Cool
idge and Secretary Hughes, to With
draw from Haiti, in 1924.
Il 4
In 1908, Panama appealed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt that he should take
over the control of elections in that
republic. At the suggestion of the
then Secretary of War, Mr.. Taft.
only advisory, with no power OF inter-
,vention -, ...,.,f ~. y--5k&, --,-is =
In 1912, the request from both Pana-
man political parties was renewed. and
then President Taft appointed the Gov
ernor of the Canal Zone, with Two
American Army officers and 228 super
visors. but without troops, to control
the elections.
In 1918, under President Wilson, the
United States, with armed interven.
ton, undertook the maintenance OF
order in Panama and Colon, during the
But It happens that. the intervention
in Nicaragua is under the Republican
administration. How did 1t originate!
The Story is told by Judge de susie
n1ente, one of the most eminent Jurlsts
of Central America. In his book, The
World Court" the judge says;
"It was caused by the Bryan-Cha-
MORO treaty between the United States
of America and Nicaragua;es in 1t
Nicaragua granted concessions to the
United States for the construction OF an
interoceanic canal and for the eStab-
lishment of naval base in the Gulf
of Fonseca, with long leases OF two
islands in the Atlantic ocean (Gulf
Coru" Hence 1t, too, is rooted In the
Wilson administration.
The judge describes two suits against
the treaty powers, brought by Costa
Rica and Salvador. under claims that
the treaty violated their, rights. The
suits were heard by the League of Ma
tons of Central America 1.-THE first
such league" that was ever formed
and decisions were given against the
United States but President Wilson saw
fit to ignore the court OF that League
OF Nations" So the League OF Central
America cied. 80
- 4 *
The essential facts include the origin
Of the basis of the interventions which
came in a Democratic administration,
as well as did the snubbing Of, the first
League of Nations by the prime au-
thor Of the second league.
We have not discussed the fnterna-
tional law. which constitutes the basic
principle of intervention. There is no
space left in today's column, butSit may
be continued in our next issue
next Tuesday-f world events" and
the present political campaign do not
prevent.
icoDyrlEhs. 1898 by Paul v. couias.l