Evening star., 1949-11-27


ted revolution against his home
land. In fact, on numerous occa-
sions during the past year the
colonel has been permitted the
use of the Dominican government
dominated radio to broadcast in
flammatory speeches calling upon
the Haitian people to overthrow
President Estime.
In Washington last spring Am
bassador Joseph D. Charles, Hal
tian representative on the Coun-
Gil of the Organization of Ameri-
can States. officially brought the
Roland broadcasts to the atten-
ton of that body, charging the
Dominican government with
moral aggression Meantime
tension ran high in Haiti. and the
authorities had taken extraordi-
nary precautions against any dis
orders by instituting temporary
state of siege.
Ended State of Siege
An OAS fact finding committee
made an on -the-scene investiga-
ton. On the basis of the commit
tees findings. Haiti and it's neigh
Dor signed an agreement, at the
Pan American Union in June,
binding themselves to resolve their
differences by direct negotiation.
in accordance with inter-American
peace machinery.
The negotiations ended in what
had been officially termed "a sat-
isfactory manner" At any rate.
the Roland broadcasts ceased.
The Haitian government ended
the state Of siege and prepared the
way for congressional elections
next January. But the extremist
newspapers, along with the reac-
tionary and leftist political par
ties, Immediately resumed their
campaign against the government.
Among the opposition newspapers
several have been outspokenly pro-
Russian, even some of those which
claim to be of rightist persuasion.
The Nation recently carried an
article signed by Paul Cassagnol
leader OF the so-called rightest, and
bitterly anti-United States. Chris
tian Socialist Party, saying that
"all our admiration goes to the
powerful Soviet Union and to the
leader of its renowned govern
ment. leader Of the proletariat,
Marshal Joseph Stain"
Student Strike Threat
In fact. for the purposes OF the
January elections. the Christian
Socialist Party had joined with the
pro-Communist Popular Socialist
Party and the leftist Workers and
Peasants Movement in an unde-
clared united front against the
government. They had succeeded
in recruiting numbers Of intel
lectuals and even certain inf1uen-
tial members of the aristocracy,
Most Haitians proudly boast OF
their predominant African blood.
But many of the small upper-class
mulattos. nearly all of them prod
ucts Of French schools and uni
versities, look with marked con-
descension upon the darker -hued
masses, the majority OF whom
have heartily supported President
EStime.
BY early November tension be
gan to mount again. Some 1l,000
university students in Port-au-
Prince threatened to 60 on strike,
and by what one Washington dip
lomat called IAN unusual If not
strange coincidence" the voice of
Col. Roland was heard once again
over Radio Voz Dominicana, from
Trujillo City. This time the colonel
was joined by one Alfred Viau,
another Haitian expatriate, now
in the Dominican capital, invit-
ing the people of Haiti to rise in
revolt against their rulers. The
government Of President Estime
has protested what he called "the
fragrant Dominican violation" Of
the June amity declaration, but,
for some reason, little attention
has been paid to it.
Interference CHARGED
In the past few months pro-
government newspapers in Port
had been publishing
what purported to be "documented
reports" charging the Trujillo
government with interfering in
Haitian affairs. At least they had
insisted that large sums Of money
were being sent into the country
from Trujillo City" to finance
the campaign Of the opposition
press and political parties in their
anti-government activities. La Vie
Publique Of the Haitian capital
took the lead in making such
charges.
Whether all, or any. of these
accusations were true or not,
Haitian officials may be forgiven
If they have difficulty overlook
ing the continued presence in
Trujillo City Of Col. Roland. es-
pecially after the investigation Of
the charges against him made by
the Organization of American
States. and the agreement of both
governments to refrain from any
provocative activities toward each
other. Any informed person knows
that Col. Roland would not be
enjoying the freedom Of any
Dominican broadcasting station,
against its own government, If he
did not have the permission of
Dominican authorities. Moreover.