Evening star., 1933-10-01
NEW u. S. HAITIAN POLICY
SURE TO BEAR. GOODWILL
Final Withdrawal of Marines One Year
From Today to See Accomplishment
of Important Step in Relations.

Last, but by no means least, the new
agreement provides for arbitration of
any controversy which may arise con-
corning 1t, after diplomatic means Of
settlement have been exhausted.
This. alone, reveals an entirely new
spirit In the State Department toward
Caribbean problems. Together with the
other provisions Of the executive agree
ment signed at Port au Prince 1t is an
indication that the new deal' is be-
ginning to bear fruit in the field Of
inter American relations. The Haitians,
at least can no longer doubt that
President Roosevelt meant every word
when he dedicated this nation to the
policy Of the good neighbor.
OF course, to understand the signih-
canoe OF the change, one must have
In mind the history Of Haitian Amer
ican relations for the past twenty-five
years. Only when compared with the
attitude Of previous administrations,
can the fairness Of the new one be
really appreciated. But the citizens Of
Haiti surely remember the errors and
abuses committed In the past IN the
name Of "dollor diplomacy" and the
policy Of the big stick" And no one
who does, can fall to recogn ze the I'M
provement.
The striking thing about this new
deal" for Haiti Is that Franklin D.
Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy N the Wilson administration.
when some Of the worst outrages
against Haitian sovereignty were per-
petrated by diplomatic agents and
Navy officers who took too seriously their
role of policing the Caribbean. The
change, now, shows how much he has
advanced from the old tmperialisttc
policy
Regaining Of Goodwin.
It may be only . coincidence. but 1t
Is . suggestive one. to see Josephus
Daniels. the former Secretary Of the
Navy under whom the seizure Of Vera
Cruz took place, regaining today the
good will of the Medcans as Ambas-
sador to Mexico, and President Roose-
welt undoing the Haitian imbrogho IN
which he, himself, had a part when
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy. The
times have changed, indeed, and 50
has the Latin American policy Of the
United States.
The reason the press has devoted 30
little comment to the Haitian agree
ment, may be twofold: in the first
place, the background of Haitian
American relations and the inside story
of how armed Intervention In the island
republic was brought about are scarcely
remembered here. And, on the other
hand, the agreement itself was not un-
expected.
Ever since President Roosevelt pro-
claimed the policy Of the good neighbor
the neighbor waO resolutely respects
himself and because he does so respects
the rights Of others"-it appeared evi-
dent that he intended to discontinue
the paternalistic policy toward Latin
America, typical Of the last three
decades. United States Intervention in
Haiti was incompatible with this pur-
pose. And when, soon afterward, the
President suggested to the Chief Execu-
tive Of 60 odd States the signing OF a
non-aggression pact, forbidding the
sending of armed forces beyond nation
al boundaries, 1t could no longer be
doubted that the withdrawal Of United
States Marines from Haitian soil was
only matter Of time.
Favorable Reaction Certain.
Naturally. the new Haitian policy Of
the State Department is bound TO
create favorable reaction, not only In
the Caribbean countries, but in all OF
public opinion in the Southern Heml-
sphere Is united on its denunciation OF
foreign Intervention and is extremely
sensitive about the sovereignty OF the
small Latin republics within the orbit
of influence of the United States.
Naturally. too. this reaction will help
the chances of success of the forth
coming Pan-American Conference at
Montevideo, where goodwill and conf
dence in the correction of past mis-
takes will count so much.
The most skeptical Latin Americans
cannot help but welcome these first
steps endeavoring to end an interven-
ton for which, in the words OF
distinguished Haitian diplomat, Dantes
Bellegarde, the United States had none
of the motives. nor even the pretexts.
with which internationalists attempt. at
times to explain the interference OF
State with the domestic affairs OF
another. In 1915. no insult had been
suffered by the Stars and Stripes in
Haiti. No American citizen had been
molested in his person or In his prop
erty. No public debt contracted In the
United States was in default.
(Copyright 1881