New Britain herald., 1929-12-17

Communists who seek to protest are blind to the fact that their activities are not likely to make for better understanding of the mottled troubles in the Negro republic. Com munists are given to eXcesses them- selves; how can they expect a pub lie wishing enlightenment 10 ac- cept it from individuals who by their actions give every indication of failing 10 possess the faculty of fair thinking"
 American marines went into Haiti in 1915 after a century of eXtraor- dinary irresponsible government had blighted the republic. and after the most heartless massacre of modern times had taken place. Consider the situation as it developed from 1911 on. In four years six self-clected Haitian stage. The last of these was Guillaume Sam, who accepted the title of "prcsident' in 1915 after just another revolution. Being Of a eau tlous disposition, he placed 200 leading citizens, each of whom he probably suspected of political am- bition to become president, into jail Another revolution was started nevertheless, and on July 27 of that year Sam fled to the French legation with a bullet in his leg. During a night a general massacre of the po- litical prisoners took place; 16' or country were murdered. There can be no doubt that Sam was respon- sible for the outrage. When the news spread in Port au Prince a mob oyerran the French legation, seized Sam hiding behind dresser in the attic, and flung him to instant death. It was then that Admiral Caperton landed marines. They have been there ever since.
 So much for a laudable attcmp. by the United States to restore order. | Certain correlaries have not been so gratifying.
 All Haitian constitutions until 1918 prohibited foreigners from ac- curing land. As a result few for cigners operated plantations in | Haiti before the World War, and those that were interested in such property did so through circumvent- ing the jaw through mortgages. At the insistence of the United states however, the prohibition against land ownership by foreigners was stnck- on from the constitution in 1918. In 1920 the Haitian government impos- ed restrictions upon the right oi foreigners to acquire land, leading | 10 protest rom lle Nlilel iN''i' minister on the ground that it dis couraeed the investment of capital, adding that the law would not be recognized by the United States.
 Although not enforced. the law re- mained on the statute books un'n 1895. Then a new law was passed
 permitting foreigners to own land but not after leaving the country for : five wears. This provision against
 absentee ownership can he evadec
 by establishing q corporation under
 Haitian or foreign law, although d foreign corporation must secure au- thorjzation from the Haitian presl-
 dent to transact business in Haiti.
 The issue in Haiti is purely eco .nomic, toundationed upon a desire
 of it's people not 10 permit absentee
 land ownership. The century of mls
 rule that preceded the Amerlcal occupation needed ending; but bi,
 business apparently has seen it's op portunity to put through laws to it advantage. Pacifying and stabilizini
 the country is one thing; the en
 deavor to make it safe for American
 capital at the cost of Haitians
 quite another. When pacificatlo
 overreaches itself it doesn't pacify.