Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-06

On the same day that the United
States Of America will vote upon the
election for the presidency, Nicaragua,
under the armed protection OF United
States Marines, viii also elect a presi-
dent. Then will follow the question as
to how promptly our forces Will be
withdrawn from that foreign country.
Even from the first step resulting from
the mutual request of the Nicaraguan
PRESIDENT Diaz and the opposition rebel
party. when President Coolidge con-
sented to intervene for the sake OF
establishing peace In that country,
there has been an acute issue whether
our President and COMMANDMENT chief
of the Army, Navy and Marines. was
authorized by law so to use our armed
forces in a foreign country-eSpecial
without the advice and consent OF the
Senate"
There is an effort, in the midst of
the political campaign. to question the
legality of the invasion" of foreign
soil, even at the request of its lawful
government. Gov. Smith makes 1t a
distinct issue, when he declares in his
acceptance speech, II personally declare
what the platform declares: Interior
ence in the purely internal affairs OF
In that platform plank and the cam
didate's reafirmation, there is direct
criticism of President wilson's admins
tration. which did in Haiti exactly what
President Coolidge is doing, by agree
ment of the Nicaraguan government,
except that President Wilson invaded"
Haiti in opposition to its own govern
ment It IS not a situation, therefore,
in which it is advisable for the pot to
call the color line on the kettle.
In order to cite even briefly the I'M
DERIVING principles of international law
affecting the right of the United States
behind our several interventions in Cen
trail America, 1t is desirable first to
enumerate those interventionS and cite
the conditions which brought them.
X \ X
There had been for many years an
archy In Haiti, especially from 1911 to
1915, before our naval Intervention be-
gan. Presidents we're forced upon the
republic by mercenary military power
and assassinated almost as fast as
chosen. On January %. 1914, an Amer
lean ship landed Marines in company
with forces from British, French and
German ships, to protect foreign inter-
ests.
Our Secretary Of State Mr. Lansing,
in accord, then, with President Wilson, l
took action He says 1t was done:
ITO terminate the appalling condi-
lions of anarchy, savagery and oppres-
sion which had been prevalent in Haiti
for decades. and to undertake the estab-
lishment of domestic peace in the re-
public, in order that the population
which had been downtrodden by die
tatorS, and the innocent victims OF re-
peated revolutions, should enjoy pros
perity and an economic and industrial
development, to which every people OF
an American nation are entitled.
Secondly, desire to forestan any at
tempt Of foreign power to obtain
foothold on the territory of an American
nation, which If the seizure Of customs
control by such power had occurred,
or If grant of coaling station or
naval base had been obtained, would
most certainly have been a menace to
the peace of the Western Hemisphere
and in fragrant defiance of the Monroe
Doctrine"
It was divulged by the State Depart
ment, under Secretary Lansing, that
Germany had actually taken steps TO
take control Of HaitPs customs and to
secure naval base at Mole ST Nicholas.
The armed forces of America dictated
the election of President Dart.gIenave;
and his opponent. Bobo, left the coun-
try in disgust at his inability to carry on
an imnWdiate revolution.
y
Not only did President Wilson dictate
the election of the Haitian President,
but he then refused to recognize the
new President until treaty between
Haiti and the United States, dictated
by the Americans, was signed and rati-
fed. In the meanwhile, the American
Navy took over customs, and withheld
all revenue from the Haitian govern
ment. except such as was doled out for
actual necessities of administration.
Finally in 1919, the Wilson policies were
broke out, with $4,000 armed natives