Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08
PRESIDENT MOVES
QUICKLY TO QUIET
OUTBREAK IN HAITI
Dispatches 500 Marines and
Calls on Congress for
Special Mission.
RESOLUTION REFERRED
TO HOUSE COMMITTEE
Borah Asks Thorough Airing of
Question on Senate Floor in
Advance.

confronted Dy open revolt OF Haitian
hatives against their American super
Hised government, President Hoover
yesterday dispatched reinforcements of
poo Marines to the island and called
pm Congress by special message for
huthority and $4,000 appropriation
10 send a special commission to Haiti
without delay" for reconsideration of
khe American policy there.
The Presidents message went to
Congress as word reached Washington.
that a small Marine patrol, repelling
D mob of 1900 natives at Aux Cages.
had killed natives and wounded 20
others in self-defense. A resolution to
inject the Presidents request, was in
Produced in the House within few
hours by Representative Stephen G.
Porter, chairman of the House COM
Rnittee on foreign affairs. The Senate
was not in session.
Early Action Indicated.
1t appeared likely that while the
administration was dealing with the
immediate emergency in Haiti, Con-
greSs would comply with It's plan Ior
q conprehensive investigation on the
ground to see what could be done
about the American occupation which
has continued since 1915.
THE Porter resolution was referred
20 the House committee on foreign al
fairs and appeared assured OF early
massage in lnte Lower House, although
Representative John N. Garner. Demo-
cratic leader, protested that there was
no need of a commission to report so
long as the Marines were there.
Senator William E. Borah, chairman
of the Senate foreign relations CON-
mittee, while not averse to a liberal
Investigation, which went beyond the
testimony of Marines and American
occupation officials, declared Tor
thorough airing of the question on the
Senate floor in advance. He charged
the Marines with supporting native
PRESTON" which could scarcely be be-
Leved to exist in these days.
U. S. S. Wright Leaves With Troops.
Soon after the House received the
Foresidert,s message, the flagship Wright
of the aircraft squadron OF the scout
ing fleet passed out OF the virginia
Capes, bound for Haiti with 300 Ma
rines to assist the 700 Marines aireaoy
there and a native constabulary OF, Z,UoO
in restoring order and protecting the
lives of 300 American ciVlnans IN the
present emergency.
Their departure was announced OF
6cially by the Navy Department soon
after 2 o'clock. At the urgent requesU
of Brig. Gen. John H. Russell OF the
Marines, American high commissioner
at Haiti, the cruiser Galveston mas also
been ordered to Haiti. 1t will proceed
swiftly to Jacmel where mobS equip
ned with automatic pistols from Guate,
Tnala have cut telephone lines ana
threatened American and native Oh
The revolt is considered the most
eerious in the island since president
Guillaume Sam was drawn ana quar-
tered in the streets of the capital by
an infuriated mob in 1915. 1t was ina!
incident which resulted in American
occupation and led to a treaty be-
tween the United States and Haiti
which provided for an American-ofn-
cered constabulary. regulations Oh mat
ters pertaining to arms and ammunl-
ton and the appointment OF an Amer
ican sanitary engineer TO recommend
methods for cleaning up the cities OF
the republic.
Embarrassing Position.
Henry L. Stimson, Secretary Of State,
in the embarrassing position Of order
ing Marines to a sovereign state and
signatory Of the Kellogg pact after
worldwide appeal to Russia and CHINA
to respect that anti-War treaty, de-
clared the situation distressing. He
said that a bad situation existed and
promised to keep the public frankly
informed of the developments so far
as compatible with the military re-
quirements.
While pressing for prompt solution
Of the general situation inherited by
the present administration, the Amer
ican Government is chiefly concerned
now with restoring order in the island.
The use of arms in any such case In
Variably results in anti-American feeI-
ing in Latin America and elsewhere.
Marines Only for Emergency.
The administrations purpose, &C
cording to Secretary Stimson, Is to
have the Marines primarily to back up
the native constabulary. The Amer
ican officials on the island have been
directed 10 hold the Marines in reserve
for use only in emergencies with which
the native forces are incapable OF
coping.
State department information was
that the Marines who repelled Friday S
mob attack on Cages did not resort to
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