Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-21
Chief Of Army
In Haiti Takes
Over Control
Cuntuve Promises
Elections. Says He
Acted to Bar Chaos

Acted to Bur Chaos
PORT Au PRINCE. Haiti,
May 81 (R.-Brig. Gen. Leon
Cantave. solidly backed by his
army officers. took over the rule
of this turbulent Negro republic
In the Caribbean today. He de-
clared he acted to steer the ma
ton away from anarchy and
economic ruin.
Gen. Cantave announced dis
solution Of q seven-man execu-
tive council, which has been
attempting to rule until presi-
Dental elections could be held
June Is. y The turnover was
accomplished without violence.
The army proclaimed a nightly
curfew throughout the nation,
imposed censorship on all out
going dispatches, and banned all
radio broadcasts Of a political OF
eupverSlve nature.
Presidential Convention
Gen. Cantave, 46-year-old
graduate of q United States
Marine-trained cadet class,
promised the army would guar
antee free and honest elections
He said the army would call q
convention without delay" Of
delegates from all provinces to
choose . provisional president
Until q provisional president
Is chosen, he added, the army
will enforce military rule.
Gen. Cantave defied an order
from the seven-man executive
council yesterday ousting him
Is chief Of staff.
No Shots Fired
Not q shot was fired as the
army rebelled against the coun-
Gil. which had been ruling by
dictatorial decree pending presi-
dental elections.
The decision by the army to
assume control was taken at an
emergency meeting Of the ma
tons top army officers last
night. The army chiefs went
into session after the council
issued the Cantave custer order.
The army move had been an
ticipated in the wake Of de-
fiance Of the council BY many
segments Of Haiti's 4 million
population. and charges that the
council was rigging" the elec-
tons for favored candidates.
Rebels Expected to Yield
At Cap Haitien, IS miles north
Of the capital. a committee Of
public safety" declared it was
In control Of all Northern Haiti.
A similar rebel group ruled in
st. Marc. SO miles northwest Of
Port Au Prince.
1t was believed these groups
would yield to the army.
Gen. Cantave's proclamation
declared the army had tried to
support the executive council,
but that every act Of the gov
eminent had brought on a fresh
wave Of rebellion which threat
ened ruin and hunger. He de-
scribed the army as the only
national institution still intact.
The army has $500 men on
active duty and reserves Of 5000.
Haiti has been In near-chaos
repeatedly since December. when
strikes and d e m o nstrations
whipped up by leading presiden-
tial candidates forced out Presi-
dent Paul Magloire when he tried
to prolong his time as chief Of
state unconstitutiona1ly. Two
succeeding provisional Presidents
were brought down by feudine
among the candidates.
ResignatiOn Cancelled
Leaders among the 10 candi-
dates got together in April long
enough to set up the ruling ex-
ecutive council but split soon
after. The council now Is made
UP mostly Of supporters of two
candidates - Louis Dejoie and
Daniel Fignole-and has been
ruling in near-dictatorial fash
ion.
Gen. Cantave resigned his
army post April 20 after the poll
ticians opposed his suggestion
that he head q three-man mill
tary junta to rule until the hold
ing Of elections. He withdrew
his resignation the next day after
appeals by a group Of army on
GERS.
The dispute that set Gen. Can
tave and the council against each
other was put in motion Sunday
when the council members went
TO st. Marc in an attempt to
demonstrate their authority over
the dissident factions there. 4.
The rebels barred the council
from the town but Gen. Cantavt
was welcomed with cries Of
down with the government
and sslOva0 It.,o fha oxx,a., .,