Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-26
Haiti Almost Beat u. S.
In OAS Vote on Castro
BY WILLIAM L. RYAN


BY WILLIAM L. RYAN
Associated Press Special Correspondent
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 20
"A near-disaster for United
States diplomacy at the hem
isphere foreign ministers con-
ference on CaStroism still
causes shoulders among some
American observers.
The threat came from pow
erty-stricken Haiti. a nation
about the size of Vermont.
whose 312 millions are ruled
with an iron fist by President
Francois Duvalier.
Persons at the Punta del
Este conference who were in
a position to know say Haiti's
delegation suddenly and blandly
informed the United States
that Haiti wanted money. Evil
IDENTIFY the delegation consid-
cred itself in good bargaining
position.
Margin Was Narrow
1t required IA votes of the
hemisphere nations to vote
Fidel Castro's Cuba out Of the
Organization of Amer c a n
States. Only 10 votes could,
at one moment, be considered
secure. Six nations, led by such
reluctant big ones as Brazil.
Mexico and Argentina, would
abstain from voting for i'm
mediate expulsion.
If the United States delega-
ton lost out on that issue
after focusing so much world
attention upon it, Washington
leadership and prestige would
suffer a painful blow. Haiti
chose the moment to announce
to a startled Washington dele
cation. informed sources say.
that it had joined the go-slow
bloc. The United States could
see its chances for a two thirds
vote fading.
But toward the end of the
complicated haggling over what
to do. about Fidel Castro's re-
gime, the Haitians suddenly
changed their minds again.
What did it? a United States
spokesman was asked.
Diplomacy" he snapped,
and then added. there was no
bribe."
Newsman Describes Haiti
The Haitian regime has re-
putation for experiences in the
field of less-than-gentle per-
suasion.
Reporting from Haiti's capt.
tai, Port au Prince, the Miami
Herald's AL Burt wrote that
Mr.. Duvalier's reputation for
political maneuvering was spot
lighted by dangling the bait
OF Haiti's vote before the United
States" at Punta del Este, and
that this apparently won him
concessions"
An GAS commission, Burt
reported, is weighing Haiti's
qualifications for Alliance for
Progress aid in the light of
what appears to be a Duvalier
demand that aid be given with
no check whatever on how the
money is used. United States
aid to Haiti was cut off June
80 pending a check on Du-
valier' use of the money.
The Florida newsman gave
this picture of Haiti:
Mr.. Duvalier's regime has
constructed a nightmare econ
omy of pyramiding taxes, har-
assment of the nations mer-
chants and businessmen, forced
contributions to the Dictator
Presidents private projects and
open terror against the least
whisper Of opposition.
Bogeymen Outnumber Army
People called Ton Ton Ma
coutes (the creole name applied
to them by the French-speak-
ing Haitians means DOGGY
menu carry out the terror for.
Mr.. Duvalier and help him keep
his grip on the power. The Ton
Ton Macoutes are 5000 strong
5000 of them in the So
called civilian militia and the
other 5000 circulating anony-
mously among the population.
The Haitian army, which could
be a source of opposition, is
only 5000 strong.
Haiti had received more
than $50 million in United
States aid since 1854 before the
funds were cut off in June. Mr..
Burt reported:
IF the United States dollars
don't flow, few doubt that Du-
Waller will take help from any,
ADVERTISEMENT