The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-01-22
HAITI AGREES
TO STATE DEPT.
COLOR EDICT
Diplomatic Staff Now All
Light. Complexioned
Or White Americans

Light. COmplexiOned
Or White Americans
Observation-Disclosures :,
U. 5. Ststs Department preju
dice. ssfieisls OF ths little blsel
sspsklie Of Hsih have erdsrs.
keme ell dssk -eemplexieWss
Diplomats and are rspIseiN,
thew with msisttoss "ssh'
cen psss" OF with white Amer
leans IN some cases!
The Chicago Defeode
learned this week from highly
confidential and AUTHORITATIVE,
sources that the discrimina,
tory policy has been in effec'
for several months.
There 10 no written agree.
mont - merely a verbal un.
derstanding which represen'
tativss OF both countries have
agreed to and which carefully
defines the complexion o.
Haitians to be accredited t
the United States.
This policy is being carried
out under the pretext that
dark Haitians create embar.
RAISING social problems In
this country.
1t Is charged that the Amer.
ican State Department Off.
eisls most responsible for this dis
criminatory understanding are Law.
renee Duggan, chief Of the division
OF Latin American Affairs, and
Willard Barber, assistant chief OF
the same division, who are directly
in charge OF United States relations
with Haiti
Hun Stand Not Known
Whether they are acting on in
structions from Secretary OF State
own authority. Is not yet known.
II IL known, however. that Bar.
Der, who does most OF the work of
the division since Duggan Is suffer
ing from q malignant disease. Is .
personal friend OF Jacque Antoine
Cnder-Ss cretary OF State for Haiti
and member Of the mulatto oil.
Garchy.
A survey Of the "color pattern"
o. the diplomatic and consular
agents from Haiti on duty in this
country tells it, own story. Here
r. the Haitian diplomatic personnel
and its complexion:
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
Andre Liauteud tAmbasssdor).
Light complexion. His father was a
white Frenchman who made his
home in Haiti.
Rsche La Rsehe military At
teche). Lght-complexion.
Ellie Garcia list Sec. OF Embassy.
I izht-complexion.
Daniel Theard end Sec. Of En-
bassy). Lght-complexion.
C1eAn1e AMteauA (Sec. 70 the AM
kassadogl. Lght-complexion.
IT, senAee tSecretary).
NEW YORK CITY
Dr.. Rulx Lesa consul Gen).
Iight-complexion.
Ygves verAa (vice Consun. Light
complexion.
Heart Rssemsnd (Attache). Black
complexion.
Lssise Ripks Secretary. White.
PHILADELPHIA
Lsuis Elssn fConsuD. White.
MIAMI
Paul Curtis fConsul). White.
BOSTON
Herbert Clark tConsuD. White.
NEW ORLEANS
Fernand lie Bosse (ConsuD.
White.
BALTIMORE
Felix Martin (ConsuO. Light
complexion.
This survey shows that with the
exception Of Roeemond, attache in
New York, all the other representa-
lives In this country are either
Eght-complexioned. or as they are
In the south. white Americans. II
Is rurnored that Rosemond Is soon
20 be recalled under the terms of
the understanding.
Haiti Social Chasm
That the Haitian government has
ecquiesed in the State Department
demands for a color bar in its diplo-
matte service is not surprising, for
NC history Of the country is replete
with incidents which indicate that
there Is wide social chasm between
mulattoes and blacks. The mulat-
toes, though outnumbered by .
ratio OF 10 TO !. have constituted
the governing class since 1918,
largely through the support OF the
American government.
The last black TO head the coun-
try's government was President
Velbrun Sam who was assassinated
In 1915 as he sought asylum in the
French legation 1t Port-au-Prince.
Shortly afterward American ma
rines occupied Haiti The American
government has dominated Haitian
foreign policy ever since.
Informed observers claim tina,
rnulattoes could not now stay in
power II il were not for State De-
psrtment support. Dark complex
Toned Haitians are reported 10 be
highly incensed over this American
Haitian color bar" understanding
for while the mulattoes are getting
the important government posts
practically ell OF the intellectuals
with international reputation are in
the darker group They realize that
there Is little they can do TO change
the situation as long as President
Lescot has the American govern
nnent behind him.
Maintain CsIer Bar
On his recent visit TO the United
States. President Lescot, who is q
light reddish brown. vigorously ad-
hered to the color line" He was
the darkest member OF his party