Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-14

Selection of a commission to investi-
gate conditions in Haiti once more
stirs debate on that mooted question
concerning American military forces in
foreign lands. Meanwhile the personnel
of the commission appears to meet with
approval and its verdict Is awaited with
interest.
Not since Elihu Root made his ex-
petition to the other Americans have
We had SO hefty commission as that
which Mr.. Hoover proposes for the
investigation" says the New York
Evening Post. = "The artillery may
seem a bit too heavy for little Haiti,
but it isn't. That strange, dark country
raises an essentially American issue, and
nothing that we can do to settle it is
too much. Incidentally, we are glad to
see the President getting back into the
public service trained 'pro-consuls' like
w. Cameron Forbes, former governor
general of the Philippines, and Henry
P. Fletcher, former Ambassador"
The Houston Chronicle also praises
Mr. Fletcher, saying that his knowl-
edge of the problems of Central Amer
lea and the CaribbeanS probably is not
exceeded by that of any man in public
life" The Houston paper warns against
the advice which some demagogic
persons give the Government that the
way to get out is to get out" and adds:
Naturally we cannot do that. We cam
not get out northumberland that
quite aside from any view about how We
came to be there. We can get out only
when we can leave stable government
behind us, and doing that in such
country as Haiti calls for the hard
labor of statesmen, not at all for the
phrase making of uniformed extrem-
lists back home"
In view of the controversy over the
proper size of the commission, the
Springfield Republican holds that lit
makes precious little difference whether
the commission has one member or
seven members, if It's work is competent
or satisfactory" and that paper argues:
THE history of American commissions
that have studied highly controverted
questions with large political poSSibili-
ties indicates that a multiheaded COM
mission is preferable, politically consid-
cred, if it submits a unanimous report.
If it diSagrees, it may cause more
trouble than it is worth"
x X \ x
An existing difficulty which is pointed
out by the New York Herald Tribune
is that "our efforts toward fostering
practical education in Haiti have been
bitterly resented by the educated
Haitians. They see in Them" continues
the Herald Tribune, IAN effort at the
destruction of the classic French cul-
ture which they themselves have pur-
sued and an implied slur on the Haitian
people. It is not enough to argue that
our attempts to establish practical
education system for the country peo-
pie have been we'll intentioned or that
the upper-class Haitians represent only
a small fraction of the populace. They
cannot be disregarded because they are
the only vocal force in the community.
And an inquiry undertaken to ascertain
how soon we can evacuate cannot an
tagonize the class which must neces-
sarily take over authority from us when
we relinquish 1t. The educational
problem is complex. and Dr. Motion will
have to exercise great tact in approach
ing it. He will need to make the fact
abundantly clear that he goes to Haiti
with no thought of interfering with the
established culture of the educated few.
but solely to grapple with the unsolved
problem of the ignorant many"
"a commission of diSintereSted per-
sons, acting wholly outside of politics
and composed of men OF affairs, anX-
ious to do q public service, capable of
making an unbiased inquiry into Haitian
affairs, ought to give us the right light
on our position now and our policy in
the future" declares the Waterloo
Tribune The Charleston Daily Mail
feels that "it would be a happy thing !
for this country If the report should re- |
suit in a program which would restore |
a stable self-government to Haitians |
and relieve this country Of an unwel- |
come responsibility"
X X
even as the inquiry is being made"
says the Oakland Tribune, 1.-The public |
may expect to hear demands that the |
Marines be recalled and the Haitians |
allowed to care for themselves. 1t is |
the easiest thing to say on the subject, |
but not necessarily true or Just" The |
South Bend 3TTibune offers the verdict:
Protection Of life and property after