Evening star., 1934-07-27

Most Of the American public Joins
with the citizens Of Haiti in express
sions OF satisfaction that the last Of
the Marines sent there by the United
States are to be Withdrawn from the
island within a few days. Many rec
ognize that these military forces were
needed at one time to enforce freedom
from lawlessness, but the island gov
ernment is believed ready for self-rule.
The policy of withdrawal Is held to
be in line with neighborly conduct
toward nations to the South, and to
remove the cause for hostility toward
the Colossus of the North"
"The Presidents visits to Haiti, to
Colombia and to Panama, while en-
route to Hawaii" says the Nashville
Banner, "have served TO emphasize his
desire that the United States be re-
garded by Latin Americans as a good
neighbor' His receptions everywhere
have been a most cordial response"
when the Marines went in," re-
calls the Owensboro (Ky.) Messenger,
Haitian conditions we're bad indeed.
President after President was elevated
by murder and removed in the same
way. Graft was rampant and santa
ton non-eXistent. Unquestionably
Haiti needed house cleaning, but it
is moot question whether the Marines
should have been sent in to do 1t. 1t
is most certain that in the early days
of the occupation the methods OF the
Marines were anything but ladylike.
The continued presence Of the Ma
rines in Haiti has been a standing irri-
tation to the sensibilities of Latin
America. Toward the close Of the
Hoover administration the announce
ment that American military and fiscal
control would be gradually withdrawn
was greeted with general appreciation.
President Roosevelt adhered TO the
Hoover promise and speeded its full
fllment.'
when they get out Of Haiti" re-
marks the Portland (Me.) Press-Her-
aid, that country will be left entirely
to its own devices. For more than
20 years it has been practically gov
erned by the Marine Corps. President
Wilson sent them in there to stop a
reign Of terror and civil war So far
as the Haitian people were concerned
this was the best job Wilson ever did.
The Marines made a splendid record
in Haiti. They reconstructed the eco
nomic life of the island, gave the peo-
pie fine government, increased bus1-
ness, established schools, built roads
and stopped lawlessness in even the
remote mountain regions, so that any
person has been safe to go anywhere
unarmed and unguarded. When the
last Marine has pulled out OF Haiti
we shall be interested to see what
happens. There are some people who
would be willing to wager that the
Marine Corps will be sent back inside
Of year or two"
an 1890" states the Pittsburgh
Post Gazette, President Hoover sent
a commission to investigate conditions
in the island The commission re-
ported that Haiti had made great ma
terial progress under American direc-
ton; it recommended gradual with
drawal of the Marines, replacement
of Americans by Haitians in civil Office
and appointment Of a Minister IN
place Of the high commissioner. The
purpose Of these proposals was TO
Eaftianize Hait<, so to speak, increas-
ing its experience in seh-ruIe in
preparation for ultimate cessation Of
American tutelage. In September,
1882, a new treaty was signed. but
the Haitian Assembly refused TO ratify
it. Later an executive agreement
was put through, covering, with slight
notifications. most of the points Of
the rejected treaty. This agreement