Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-13
Developments in Haiti.

Secured by American support in his
dictatorship since his first election, in
1872, President Borno's obvious lack Of
enthusiasm for the plan Of the Forbes
Commission to set up a provisional gov
eminent in Haiti pending the holding of
legislative elections is readily under
stood The question now is whether
the President whose record for CO.
operation with American policies is
practically unmarked by opposition, will
allow his political supporters to per-
suade him to adopt a positive stand
against the Forbes Commissions recon-
rnendations or whether, realizing the
eventual futility of such a gesture, he
will give the commission his full sup
port in laying the foundations for with
drawal of American participation in
Haitian affairs.
The Haitian President has everything
TO gain by taking this latter course. He
retireS in May and he has announced
more than once that he is neither o
candidate nor has he In mind any
candidate whom he will support. His
best attitude would be one Of cheerful
aequieseence and determination to back
the commission in its plan for placing
the Haitian government in the hands
Of the Haitians. No other attitude
would be sincere.
The Forbes Commission has not taken
long to reach its decision regarding the
.-...@~t e-.s~.n- g. - a.&n hfae1Sv., ~anv,,,
lar government In Haiti. The time left
In which this may be done before the
end % American treaty control, In 1885,
Is quite too short. There are few who
win contend with much logic that Haiti
has not been materially benefited by
American control. There is relative
peace and freedom in place Of the zap
palling conditions of anarchy, savagery
and oppression which, in the words of
Secretary Lansing. existed at the time
Of American Intervention, in 1915. The
country's finances are sound and the
work of road building, public improve
ment and establishment Of schools has
gone forward under American control
with little interruption.
But it is also admitted generally that
small progress indeed has been accom-
piished through American intervention
in the way Of preparing Haiti for the
self-kovernment to follow withdrawal of
American supervision. President Borno
has been In ONCE since 1922. His re-
election in 1926 by Council OF State,
eighteen Of whose members were APP
pointed. by the President shortly be-
fore the close Of his first term, may
have been q good thing for maintain
ing the status quo In Haiti, but 1t
represented no progress toward popular
government Now his retirement in
May, unless followed by the aboli-
ton Of the Council of State and
re.establishment of legislative cleo
tions--the latter step postponed time
and again by President Borno-is apt to
be merely the signal for recurring po-
litical revolutionary attempts that IN
themselves present prima facie evidence
Of the lack Of self-governing ability.
The Forbes Commission plan, gener-
ally speaking, is to institute provi-
sional government until such time as
regular elective processes can be set in
motion. DR.. A. c. Millspaugh, former
financial adviser, has argued that while
it is true that stable government has
been established in Haiti by the Amer
lean occupation, it is a stability which is
not rooted IN the institutions Of the
country, but on the contrary is imposed
by the force Of the United States.
These institutions could never take
root under perpetuated dictatorship,
which the Forbes Commission now
plans to end.