Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
ST|MSON WEIGHS
BUTLER INCIDENT
Secretary of State to Study
Affair "Just as Seriously
as 1t Deserves"
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Secretary Stimson said today thai
although he had not given the Butler
Bellegarde incident any study over the
week end, he would begin his investi.
CATION today and consider the matter
lust as seriously as 1t deserves to be
considered"
Maj Gen. Smedley D. Butler Of the
Marine Corps last week directed the
attention of Secretary Adams to re-
marks attributed to Minister Bellegard,
of Haiti In a copyrighted article in the
Washington Herald to the effect tina
the Minister had no knowledge Of the
existence of Fort Riviere in Haiti. Gen
Butler in 1915 was awarded the Con
gressional Medal Of Honor for its cap
ture.
Adams referred Gen. Buffers lettel
to the Secretary of State
Secretary Stimson said there was NJ
doubt in his mind concerning the exist
ence of Fort Riviere in 1915 or Of Gen
Buffers gallantry In the operation!
which resulted in its capture and de-
molition. He added, however, that thai
was not the question at issue in the
present incident.
Minister Denies Interview.
The Haitian envoy denied he hat
given the interview on Butler. He in
sisted he had not said Fort Riviere did
not exist, but only that he or Haitianl
generally, did not know of its existence
Bellegarde intimated that, in the alb
Sence of Official notice of the proteS
from the State Department, the matter
remained "a matter of the press" so fal
as he was concerned, and that If he Il
1lAl for
be substantially the same as that al.
ready expressed to the press.
Referring TO the diplomatic tangle II
radio speech at Philadelphia last
night, Butler said: Il suppose something
is being done about 1t. I don't want II
make too many remarks. Things usu-
ally come to an end"
The policy Of the United States IL
occupying Haiti in 1915, when the TAX
ing Of Fort Riviere under Gen. Butler
is dated, was scored last night by Sen
ator King. Democrat. Utah.
This episode. and the apparent con-
troversy between Gen. Butler and the
Haitian Minister" he said, lis addi-
tionsl proof Of the unwisdom of this
powerful Nations interfering in the
domestic affairs Of other countries OF
attempting military occupation Of Latin
American states.
Our policy should be one OF peace
and friendship and Scrupulous regard
for the territorial integrity and COM
plete absence of any policy that may
be construed as political or economic
imperialism. We must keep our Ma
rines and military forces out Of Latin
America and command the respect and
indeed, the affection, of their people by
unmiStakable evidences Of friendship
Radio Operator Held Right.
Meanwhile, Radio Commission off,
Gals said yesterday Howard Miller
Philadelphia radio station owner, was
within his rights in cutting Gen. Butler
on the air Saturday night for using the
word hell"
The law creating the commission. II
was explained, provided mo obscene
used in radio communication. Station
operators have the right to censor their
own programs and are indirectly re-
sponsible to the commission for them.
While the commission itself holds nc
authority in enforcing the law, 1t can
exert considerable influence with the
broadcasters by taking into considera-
ton the nature Of programs broadcast
when renewing station licenses, 1t was
pointed out.
An example Of commission action
against Objectionable language on the
air was the case of Station KVEP, in
Portland, Greg. 1t was taken of the
air on the ground that a man, TO whom
the station had sole time, had used OBJ
scene and profane language.
The commissions action was sus-
tanned by the courts.