Evening star., 1929-12-12

There Is plenty of emphatic senti-
nent in America in favor of settling the
Haitian situation, if press comment may
be taken as an indication. But there
are few solutions offered. While agree
ment is general as to improvement in
sanitation and education under Ameri-
can intervention, there is much con-
demnation of the bayonet as stimulus
toward civilization, on the one hand,
and stern reminders that we are re-
sponsible for Haitian good behavior, on
the other.
The Richmond News Leader, for in
stance, reminds us of the occasion when
we first interviewed" and the natives
cast their votes under military chaper-
onage. The choice of the present
President, the paper believes, was vir-
tually dictated and while conditions
in recent years have been bitter. Al
though the American administration
has not done nearly as much for edu-
cation as propagandiStS pretend, there
has been improvement in sanitation
and in public order. But the ugly back
ground of force and imperialism re-
main. The occupation continues q
humiliation. The sooner it is ended,
on any terms short of civil war that will
bring chaos in Haiti, the better for
democracy. America cannot preach
Pan-American peace with a Marines
bayonet."
X 4
The Louisville Courier-Journal has
less to criticize. president Hoover was
not easy in his mind about Haiti before
this latest disorder broke" it says re-
ferring to the message to Congress and
the request for a commission to in
veStigate. Commissions are handy
pieces of machinery with Mr.. Hoover"
it adds He resorts to them to solve
for him his puzzles and perpleXitieS and
he hopes a commission will be able to
find a way out of our Haitian predica-
ment. However, the problem is not as
difficult as he represents it to be. It
should not require commission to con-
vince so thoroughgoing an American as
the Courier-Journal believes Herbert
Hoover to be that the way out Of the
Haitian situation Is to get out and stay
out"
I'VE have a clear responsibility for
President Borno," ayers the New York
Evening World. I'VE have supported
him and he, in turn, has been sub
servient to us. His reelection by the
81 members of the council Of state, all
named by himself, is not conclusive as
to the attitude of the people toward
him. The jeering that accompanied
him to the waters edge when he came
here Immediately after his reelection
is an indication of the popular feeling
His harsh rule, which may surely be
described as tyrannical, accounts for
the hostile sentiment. Thus we have
a very clear responsibility for what is
happening in Haiti today, and 1t Is
time that we make an inventory of our
successes and failures there and seek
a new policy that will more nearly con-
form with the desires OF the people
there while safeguarding all legitimate
American rights"
X ~
Gas President Hoover says in his
message" according to the Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin, "the American inter-
Vention has accomplished signal re-
suits in the improvement of the mate
rial condition of the people of Haiti
That has been notably true in respect
of education, of sanitation. of road
building and Of the maintenance of
public order and suppression of ban
ditry. The administration knows it has
ample Justification for its present policy
in Haiti and it cannot Scuttle from its
responsibilities there"
Holding that 1.-The trouble lies in the
utter unf1tneSS for Self-government of
a large majority of the Haitian popula-
tion," the Petersburg, Va, Progress
Index argues: "A commission composed
of capable men disintereSted and un-
biased should be able, in a short time,
to put the President in possession of
the essential facts necessary to the
formulation of the proper policy to be
pursued by this country in dealing with
Haiti. Such commission might be
empowered to look into the affairs of
Santo Domingo while down in that