diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35025.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35025.txt | 2513 |
1 files changed, 2513 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/35025.txt b/35025.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..970124f --- /dev/null +++ b/35025.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2513 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Self-Determining Haiti, by James Weldon Johnson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Self-Determining Haiti + Four articles reprinted from The Nation embodying a report + of an investigation made for the National Association for + the Advancement of Colored People. + +Author: James Weldon Johnson + +Release Date: January 21, 2011 [EBook #35025] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELF-DETERMINING HAITI *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Gary Rees and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +Self-Determining Haiti + +BY + +JAMES WELDON JOHNSON + + +Four articles reprinted from _The Nation_ embodying a report of an +investigation made for + +THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE + + +_Together with Official Documents_ + +25 cents a copy + + + + +Copyright, 1920 + +By THE NATION, Inc. + + + + +FOREWORD + + +The articles and documents in this pamphlet were printed in _The Nation_ +during the summer of 1920. They revealed for the first time to the world +the nature of the United States' imperialistic venture in Haiti. While, +owing to the censorship, the full story of this fundamental departure +from American traditions has not yet been told, it appears at the time +of this writing, October, 1920, that "pitiless publicity" for our +sandbagging of a friendly and inoffensive neighbor has been achieved. +The report of Major-General George Barnett, commandant of the Marine +Corps during the first four years of the Haitian occupation, just +issued, strikingly confirms the facts set forth by _The Nation_ and +refutes the denials of administration officials and their newspaper +apologists. It is in the hope that by spreading broadly the truth about +what has happened in Haiti under five years of American occupation _The +Nation_ may further contribute toward removing a dark blot from the +American escutcheon, that this pamphlet is issued. + + + + +Self-Determining Haiti + +By JAMES WELDON JOHNSON + + + + +I. THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION + + +To know the reasons for the present political situation in Haiti, to +understand why the United States landed and has for five years +maintained military forces in that country, why some three thousand +Haitian men, women, and children have been shot down by American rifles +and machine guns, it is necessary, among other things, to know that the +National City Bank of New York is very much interested in Haiti. It is +necessary to know that the National City Bank controls the National Bank +of Haiti and is the depository for all of the Haitian national funds +that are being collected by American officials, and that Mr. R. L. +Farnham, vice-president of the National City Bank, is virtually the +representative of the State Department in matters relating to the island +republic. Most Americans have the opinion--if they have any opinion at +all on the subject--that the United States was forced, on purely humane +grounds, to intervene in the black republic because of the tragic coup +d'etat which resulted in the overthrow and death of President Vilbrun +Guillaume Sam and the execution of the political prisoners confined at +Port-au-Prince, July 27-28, 1915; and that this government has been +compelled to keep a military force in Haiti since that time to pacify +the country and maintain order. + +The fact is that for nearly a year before forcible intervention on the +part of the United States this government was seeking to compel Haiti to +submit to "peaceable" intervention. Toward the close of 1914 the United +States notified the government of Haiti that it was disposed to +recognize the newly-elected president, Theodore Davilmar, as soon as a +Haitian commission would sign at Washington "satisfactory protocols" +relative to a convention with the United States on the model of the +Dominican-American Convention. On December 15, 1914, the Haitian +government, through its Secretary of Foreign Affairs, replied: "The +Government of the Republic of Haiti would consider itself lax in its +duty to the United States and to itself if it allowed the least doubt +to exist of its irrevocable intention not to accept any control of the +administration of Haitian affairs by a foreign Power." On December 19, +the United States, through its legation at Port-au-Prince, replied, that +in expressing its willingness to do in Haiti what had been done in Santo +Domingo it "was actuated entirely by a disinterested desire to give +assistance." + +Two months later, the Theodore government was overthrown by a revolution +and Vilbrun Guillaume was elected president. Immediately afterwards +there arrived at Port-au-Prince an American commission from +Washington--the Ford mission. The commissioners were received at the +National Palace and attempted to take up the discussion of the +convention that had been broken off in December, 1914. However, they +lacked full powers and no negotiations were entered into. After several +days, the Ford mission sailed for the United States. But soon after, in +May, the United States sent to Haiti Mr. Paul Fuller, Jr., with the +title Envoy Extraordinary, on a special mission to apprise the Haitian +government that the Guillaume administration would not be recognized by +the American government unless Haiti accepted and signed the project of +a convention which he was authorized to present. After examining the +project the Haitian government submitted to the American commission a +counter-project, formulating the conditions under which it would be +possible to accept the assistance of the United States. To this +counter-project Mr. Fuller proposed certain modifications, some of which +were accepted by the Haitian government. On June 5, 1915, Mr. Fuller +acknowledged the receipt of the Haitian communication regarding these +modifications, and sailed from Port-au-Prince. + +Before any further discussion of the Fuller project between the two +governments, political incidents in Haiti led rapidly to the events of +July, 27 and 28. On July 27 President Guillaume fled to the French +Legation, and on the same day took place a massacre of the political +prisoners in the prison at Port-au-Prince. On the morning of July 28 +President Guillaume was forcibly taken from French Legation and killed. +On the afternoon of July 28 an American man-of-war dropped anchor in the +harbor of Port-au-Prince and landed American forces. It should be borne +in mind that through all of this the life of not a single American +citizen had been taken or jeopardized. + +The overthrow of Guillaume and its attending consequences did not +constitute the cause of American intervention in Haiti, but merely +furnished the awaited opportunity. Since July 28, 1915, American +military forces have been in control of Haiti. These forces have been +increased until there are now somewhere near three thousand Americans +under arms in the republic. From the very first, the attitude of the +Occupation has been that it was dealing with a conquered territory. +Haitian forces were disarmed, military posts and barracks were occupied, +and the National Palace was taken as headquarters for the Occupation. +After selecting a new and acceptable president for the country, steps +were at once taken to compel the Haitian government to sign a convention +in which it virtually foreswore its independence. This was accomplished +by September 16, 1915; and although the terms of this convention +provided for the administration of the Haitian customs by American +civilian officials, all the principal custom houses of the country had +been seized by military force and placed in charge of American Marine +officers before the end of August. The disposition of the funds +collected in duties from the time of the military seizure of the custom +houses to the time of their administration by civilian officials is +still a question concerning which the established censorship in Haiti +allows no discussion. + +It is interesting to note the wide difference between the convention +which Haiti was forced to sign and the convention which was in course of +diplomatic negotiation at the moment of intervention. The Fuller +convention asked little of Haiti and gave something, the Occupation +convention demands everything of Haiti and gives nothing. The Occupation +convention is really the same convention which the Haitian government +peremptorily refused to discuss in December, 1914, except that in +addition to American control of Haitian finances it also provides for +American control of the Haitian military forces. The Fuller convention +contained neither of these provisions. When the United States found +itself in a position to take what it had not even dared to ask, it used +brute force and took it. But even a convention which practically +deprived Haiti of its independence was found not wholly adequate for +the accomplishment of all that was contemplated. The Haitian +constitution still offered some embarrassments, so it was decided that +Haiti must have a new constitution. It was drafted and presented to the +Haitian assembly for adoption. The assembly balked--chiefly at the +article in the proposed document removing the constitutional disability +which prevented aliens from owning land in Haiti. Haiti had long +considered the denial of this right to aliens as her main bulwark +against overwhelming economic exploitation; and it must be admitted that +she had better reasons than the several states of the United States that +have similar provisions. + +The balking of the assembly resulted in its being dissolved by actual +military force and the locking of doors of the Chamber. There has been +no Haitian legislative body since. The desired constitution was +submitted to a plebiscite by a decree of the President, although such a +method of constitutional revision was clearly unconstitutional. Under +the circumstances of the Occupation the plebiscite was, of course, +almost unanimous for the desired change, and the new constitution was +promulgated on June 18, 1918. Thus Haiti was given a new constitution by +a flagrantly unconstitutional method. The new document contains several +fundamental changes and includes a "Special Article" which declares: + + All the acts of the Government of the United States during its + military Occupation in Haiti are ratified and confirmed. + + No Haitian shall be liable to civil or criminal prosecution for + any act done by order of the Occupation or under its authority. + + The acts of the courts martial of the Occupation, without, + however, infringing on the right to pardon, shall not be + subject to revision. + + The acts of the Executive Power (the President) up to the + promulgation of the present constitution are likewise ratified + and confirmed. + +The above is the chronological order of the principal steps by which the +independence of a neighboring republic has been taken away, the people +placed under foreign military domination from which they have no appeal, +and exposed to foreign economic exploitation against which they are +defenseless. All of this has been done in the name of the Government of +the United States; however, without any act by Congress and without any +knowledge of the American people. + +The law by which Haiti is ruled today is martial law dispensed by +Americans. There is a form of Haitian civil government, but it is +entirely dominated by the military Occupation. President Dartiguenave, +bitterly rebellious at heart as is every good Haitian, confessed to me +the powerlessness of himself and his cabinet. He told me that the +American authorities give no heed to recommendations made by him or his +officers; that they would not even discuss matters about which the +Haitian officials have superior knowledge. The provisions of both the +old and the new constitutions are ignored in that there is no Haitian +legislative body, and there has been none since the dissolution of the +Assembly in April, 1916. In its stead there is a Council of State +composed of twenty-one members appointed by the president, which +functions effectively only when carrying out the will of the Occupation. +Indeed the Occupation often overrides the civil courts. A prisoner +brought before the proper court, exonerated, and discharged, is, +nevertheless, frequently held by the military. All government funds are +collected by the Occupation and are dispensed at its will and pleasure. +The greater part of these funds is expended for the maintenance of the +military forces. There is the strictest censorship of the press. No +Haitian newspaper is allowed to publish anything in criticism of the +Occupation or the Haitian government. Each newspaper in Haiti received +an order to that effect from the Occupation, _and the same order carried +the injunction not to print the order_. Nothing that might reflect upon +the Occupation administration in Haiti is allowed to reach the +newspapers of the United States. + +The Haitian people justly complain that not only is the convention +inimical to the best interests of their country, but that the +convention, such as it is, is not being carried out in accordance with +the letter, nor in accordance with the spirit in which they were led to +believe it would be carried out. Except one, all of the obligations in +the convention which the United States undertakes in favor of Haiti are +contained in the first article of that document, the other fourteen +articles being made up substantially of obligations to the United States +assumed by Haiti. But nowhere in those fourteen articles is there +anything to indicate that Haiti would be subjected to military +domination. In Article I the United States promises to "aid the Haitian +government in the proper and efficient development of its agricultural, +mineral, and commercial resources and in the establishment of the +finances of Haiti on a firm and solid basis." And the whole convention +and, especially, the protestations of the United States before the +signing of the instrument can be construed only to mean that that aid +would be extended through the supervision of civilian officials. + +The one promise of the United States to Haiti not contained in the first +article of the convention is that clause of Article XIV which says, +"and, should the necessity occur, the United States will lend an +efficient aid for the preservation of Haitian independence and the +maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, +property, and individual liberty." It is the extreme of irony that this +clause which the Haitians had a right to interpret as a guarantee to +them against foreign invasion should first of all be invoked against the +Haitian people themselves, and offer the only peg on which any pretense +to a right of military domination can be hung. + +There are several distinct forces--financial, military, bureaucratic--at +work in Haiti which, tending to aggravate the conditions they themselves +have created, are largely self-perpetuating. The most sinister of these, +the financial engulfment of Haiti by the National City Bank of New York, +already alluded to, will be discussed in detail in a subsequent article. +The military Occupation has made and continues to make military +Occupation necessary. The justification given is that it is necessary +for the pacification of the country. Pacification would never have been +necessary had not American policies been filled with so many stupid and +brutal blunders; and it will never be effective so long as +"pacification" means merely the hunting of ragged Haitians in the hills +with machine guns. + +Then there is the force which the several hundred American civilian +place-holders constitute. They have found in Haiti the veritable +promised land of "jobs for deserving democrats" and naturally do not +wish to see the present status discontinued. Most of these deserving +democrats are Southerners. The head of the customs service of Haiti was +a clerk of one of the parishes of Louisiana. Second in charge of the +customs service of Haiti is a man who was Deputy Collector of Customs at +Pascagoula, Mississippi [population, 3,379, 1910 Census]. The +Superintendent of Public Instruction was a school teacher in +Louisiana--a State which has not good schools even for white children; +the financial advisor, Mr. McIlhenny, is also from Louisiana. + +Many of the Occupation officers are in the same category with the +civilian place-holders. These men have taken their wives and families to +Haiti. Those at Port-au-Prince live in beautiful villas. Families that +could not keep a hired girl in the United States have a half-dozen +servants. They ride in automobiles--not their own. Every American head +of a department in Haiti has an automobile furnished at the expense of +the Haitian Government, whereas members of the Haitian cabinet, who are +theoretically above them, have no such convenience or luxury. While I +was there, the President himself was obliged to borrow an automobile +from the Occupation for a trip through the interior. The Louisiana +school-teacher Superintendent of Instruction has an automobile furnished +at government expense, whereas the Haitian Minister of Public +Instruction, his supposed superior officer, has none. These automobiles +seem to be chiefly employed in giving the women and children an airing +each afternoon. It must be amusing, when it is not maddening to the +Haitians, to see with what disdainful air these people look upon them as +they ride by. + +The platform adopted by the Democratic party at San Francisco said of +the Wilson policy in Mexico: + + The Administration, remembering always that Mexico is an + independent nation and that permanent stability in her + government and her institutions could come only from the + consent of her own people to a government of her own making, + has been unwilling either to profit by the misfortunes of the + people of Mexico or to enfeeble their future by imposing from + the outside a rule upon their temporarily distracted councils. + +Haiti has never been so distracted in its councils as Mexico. And even +in its moments of greatest distraction it never slaughtered an American +citizen, it never molested an American woman, it never injured a +dollar's worth of American property. And yet, the Administration whose +lofty purpose was proclaimed as above--with less justification than +Austria's invasion of Serbia, or Germany's rape of Belgium, without +warrant other than the doctrine that "might makes right," has conquered +Haiti. It has done this through the very period when, in the words of +its chief spokesman, our sons were laying down their lives overseas "for +democracy, for the rights of those who submit to authority to have a +voice in their own government, for the rights and liberties of small +nations." By command of the author of "pitiless publicity" and +originator of "open covenants openly arrived at," it has enforced by the +bayonet a covenant whose secret has been well guarded by a rigid +censorship from the American nation, and kept a people enslaved by the +military tyranny which it was his avowed purpose to destroy throughout +the world. + +_From The Nation of August 25, 1920._ + + + + +II. WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCOMPLISHED + + +When the truth about the conquest of Haiti--the slaughter of three +thousand and practically unarmed Haitians, with the incidentally +needless death of a score of American boys--begins to filter through the +rigid Administration censorship to the American people, the apologists +will become active. Their justification of what has been done will be +grouped under two heads: one, the necessity, and two, the results. Under +the first, much stress will be laid upon the "anarchy" which existed in +Haiti, upon the backwardness of the Haitians and their absolute +unfitness to govern themselves. The pretext which caused the +intervention was taken up in the first article of this series. The +characteristics, alleged and real, of the Haitian people will be taken +up in a subsequent article. Now as to results: The apologists will +attempt to show that material improvements in Haiti justify American +intervention. Let us see what they are. + +Diligent inquiry reveals just three: The building of the road from +Port-au-Prince to Cape Haitien; the enforcement of certain sanitary +regulations in the larger cities; and the improvement of the public +hospital at Port-au-Prince. The enforcement of certain sanitary +regulations is not so important as it may sound, for even under +exclusive native rule, Haiti has been a remarkably healthy country and +had never suffered from such epidemics as used to sweep Cuba and the +Panama Canal region. The regulations, moreover, were of a purely minor +character--the sort that might be issued by a board of health in any +American city or town--and were in no wise fundamental, because there +was no need. The same applies to the improvement of the hospital, long +before the American Occupation, an effectively conducted institution but +which, it is only fair to say, benefited considerably by the regulations +and more up-to-date methods of American army surgeons--the best in the +world. Neither of these accomplishments, however, creditable as they +are, can well be put forward as a justification for military domination. +The building of the great highway from Port-au-Prince to Cape Haitien is +a monumental piece of work, but it is doubtful whether the object in +building it was to supply the Haitians with a great highway or to +construct a military road which would facilitate the transportation of +troops and supplies from one end of the island to the other. And this +represents the sum total of the constructive accomplishment after five +years of American Occupation. + +Now, the highway, while doubtless the most important achievement of the +three, involved the most brutal of all the blunders of the Occupation. +The work was in charge of an officer of Marines who stands out even in +that organization for his "treat 'em rough" methods. He discovered the +obsolete Haitian _corvee_ and decided to enforce it with the most modern +Marine efficiency. The _corvee_, or road law, in Haiti provided that +each citizen should work a certain number of days on the public roads to +keep them in condition, or pay a certain sum of money. In the days when +this law was in force the Haitian government never required the men to +work the roads except in their respective communities, and the number of +days was usually limited to three a year. But the Occupation seized men +wherever it could find them, and no able-bodied Haitian was safe from +such raids, which most closely resembled the African slave raids of past +centuries. And slavery it was--though temporary. By day or by night, +from the bosom of their families, from their little farms or while +trudging peacefully on the country roads, Haitians were seized and +forcibly taken to toil for months in far sections of the country. Those +who protested or resisted were beaten into submission. At night, after +long hours of unremitting labor under armed taskmasters, who swiftly +discouraged any slackening of effort with boot or rifle butt, the +victims were herded in compounds. Those attempting to escape were shot. +Their terror-stricken families meanwhile were often in total ignorance +of the fate of their husbands, fathers, brothers. + +It is chiefly out of these methods that arose the need for +"pacification." Many men of the rural districts became panic-stricken +and fled to the hills and mountains. Others rebelled and did likewise, +preferring death to slavery. These refugees largely make up the "caco" +forces, to hunt down which has become the duty and the sport of American +Marines, who were privileged to shoot a "caco" on sight. If anyone +doubts that "caco" hunting is the sport of American Marines in Haiti, +let him learn the facts about the death of Charlemagne. Charlemagne +Peralte was a Haitian of education and culture and of great influence in +his district. He was tried by an American courtmartial on the charge of +aiding "cacos." He was sentenced, not to prison, however, but to five +years of hard labor on the roads, and was forced to work in convict garb +on the streets of Cape Haitien. He made his escape and put himself at +the head of several hundred followers in a valiant though hopeless +attempt to free Haiti. The America of the Revolution, indeed the America +of the Civil War, would have regarded Charlemagne not as a criminal but +a patriot. He met his death not in open fight, not in an attempt at his +capture, but through a dastard deed. While standing over his camp fire, +he was shot in cold blood by an American Marine officer who stood +concealed by the darkness, and who had reached the camp through bribery +and trickery. This deed, which was nothing short of assassination, has +been heralded as an example of American heroism. Of this deed, Harry +Franck, writing in the June Century of "The Death of Charlemagne," says: +"Indeed it is fit to rank with any of the stirring warrior tales with +which history is seasoned from the days of the Greeks down to the recent +world war." America should read "The Death of Charlemagne" which +attempts to glorify a black smirch on American arms and tradition. + +There is a reason why the methods employed in road building affected the +Haitian country folk in a way in which it might not have affected the +people of any other Latin-American country. Not since the independence +of the country has there been any such thing as a peon in Haiti. The +revolution by which Haiti gained her independence was not merely a +political revolution, it was also a social revolution. Among the many +radical changes wrought was that of cutting up the large slave estates +into small parcels and allotting them among former slaves. And so it was +that every Haitian in the rural districts lived on his own plot of land, +a plot on which his family has lived for perhaps more than a hundred +years. No matter how small or how large that plot is, and whether he +raises much or little on it, it is his and he is an independent farmer. + +The completed highway, moreover, continued to be a barb in the Haitian +wound. Automobiles on this road, running without any speed limit, are a +constant inconvenience or danger to the natives carrying their market +produce to town on their heads or loaded on the backs of animals. I have +seen these people scramble in terror often up the side or down the +declivity of the mountain for places of safety for themselves and their +animals as the machines snorted by. I have seen a market woman's horse +take flight and scatter the produce loaded on his back all over the road +for several hundred yards. I have heard an American commercial traveler +laughingly tell how on the trip from Cape Haitien to Port-au-Prince the +automobile he was in killed a donkey and two pigs. It had not occurred +to him that the donkey might be the chief capital of the small Haitian +farmer and that the loss of it might entirely bankrupt him. It is all +very humorous, of course, unless you happen to be the Haitian +pedestrian. + +The majority of visitors on arriving at Port-au-Prince and noticing the +well-paved, well-kept streets, will at once jump to the conclusion that +this work was done by the American Occupation. The Occupation goes to no +trouble to refute this conclusion, and in fact it will by implication +corroborate it. If one should exclaim, "Why, I am surprised to see what +a well-paved city Port-au-Prince is!" he would be almost certain to +receive the answer, "Yes, but you should have seen it before the +Occupation." The implication here is that Port-au-Prince was a mudhole +and that the Occupation is responsible for its clean and well-paved +streets. It is true that at the time of the intervention, five years +ago, there were only one or two paved streets in the Haitian capital, +but the contracts for paving the entire city had been let by the Haitian +Government, and the work had already been begun. This work was completed +during the Occupation, _but the Occupation did not pave, and had nothing +to do with the paving of a single street in Port-au-Prince_. + +One accomplishment I did expect to find--that the American Occupation, +in its five years of absolute rule, had developed and improved the +Haitian system of public education. The United States has made some +efforts in this direction in other countries where it has taken control. +In Porto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines, the attempt, at least, was +made to establish modern school systems. Selected youths from these +countries were taken and sent to the United States for training in order +that they might return and be better teachers, and American teachers +were sent to those islands in exchange. The American Occupation in Haiti +has not advanced public education a single step. No new buildings have +been erected. Not a single Haitian youth has been sent to the United +States for training as a teacher, nor has a single American teacher, +white or colored, been sent to Haiti. According to the general budget of +Haiti, 1919-1920, there are teachers in the rural schools receiving as +little as six dollars a month. Some of these teachers may not be worth +more than six dollars a month. But after five years of American rule, +there ought not to be a single teacher in the country who is not worth +more than that paltry sum. + +Another source of discontent is the Gendarmerie. When the Occupation +took possession of the island, it disarmed all Haitians, including the +various local police forces. To remedy this situation the Convention +(Article X), provided that there should be created,-- + + without delay, an efficient constabulary, urban and rural, + composed of native Haitians. This constabulary shall be + organized and officered by Americans, appointed by the + President of Haiti upon nomination by the President of the + United States.... These officers shall be replaced by Haitians + as they, by examination conducted under direction of a board to + be selected by the Senior American Officer of this constabulary + in the presence of a representative of the Haitian Government, + are found to be qualified to assume such duties. + +During the first months of the Occupation officers of the Haitian +Gendarmerie were commissioned officers of the marines, but the war took +all these officers to Europe. Five years have passed and the +constabulary is still officered entirely by marines, but almost without +exception they are ex-privates or non-commissioned officers of the +United States Marine Corps commissioned in the gendarmerie. Many of +these men are rough, uncouth, and uneducated, and a great number from +the South, are violently steeped in color prejudice. They direct all +policing of city and town. It falls to them, ignorant of Haitian ways +and language, to enforce every minor police regulation. Needless to say, +this is a grave source of continued irritation. Where the genial +American "cop" could, with a wave of his hand or club, convey the full +majesty of the law to the small boy transgressor or to some equally +innocuous offender, the strong-arm tactics for which the marines are +famous, are apt to be promptly evoked. The pledge in the Convention that +"these officers be replaced by Haitians" who could qualify, has, like +other pledges, become a mere scrap of paper. Graduates of the famous +French military academy of St. Cyr, men who have actually qualified for +commissions in the French army, are denied the opportunity to fill even +a lesser commission in the Haitian Gendarmerie, although such men, in +addition to their pre-eminent qualifications of training, would, because +of their understanding of local conditions and their complete +familiarity with the ways of their own country, make ideal guardians of +the peace. + +The American Occupation of Haiti is not only guilty of sins of omission, +it is guilty of sins of commission in addition to those committed in the +building of the great road across the island. Brutalities and atrocities +on the part of American marines have occurred with sufficient frequency +to be the cause of deep resentment and terror. Marines talk freely of +what they "did" to some Haitians in the outlying districts. Familiar +methods of torture to make captives reveal what they often do not know +are nonchalantly discussed. Just before I left Port-au-Prince an +American Marine had caught a Haitian boy stealing sugar off the wharf +and instead of arresting him he battered his brains out with the butt of +his rifle. I learned from the lips of American Marines themselves of a +number of cases of rape of Haitian women by marines. I often sat at +tables in the hotels and cafes in company with marine officers and they +talked before me without restraint. I remember the description of a +"caco" hunt by one of them; he told how they finally came upon a crowd +of natives engaged in the popular pastime of cock-fighting and how they +"let them have it" with machine guns and rifle fire. I heard another, a +captain of marines, relate how he at a fire in Port-au-Prince ordered a +"rather dressed up Haitian," standing on the sidewalk, to "get in there" +and take a hand at the pumps. It appeared that the Haitian merely +shrugged his shoulders. The captain of marines then laughingly said: "I +had on a pretty heavy pair of boots and I let him have a kick that +landed him in the middle of the street. Someone ran up and told me that +the man was an ex-member of the Haitian Assembly." The fact that the man +had been a member of the Haitian Assembly made the whole incident more +laughable to the captain of marines. + +Perhaps the most serious aspect of American brutality in Haiti is not to +be found in individual cases of cruelty, numerous and inexcusable though +they are, but rather in the American attitude, well illustrated by the +diagnosis of an American officer discussing the situation and its +difficulty: "The trouble with this whole business is that some of these +people with a little money and education think they are as good as we +are," and this is the keynote of the attitude of every American to every +Haitian. Americans have carried American hatred to Haiti. They have +planted the feeling of caste and color prejudice where it never before +existed. + +And such are the "accomplishments" of the United States in Haiti. The +Occupation has not only failed to achieve anything worth while, but has +made it impossible to do so because of the distrust and bitterness that +it has engendered in the Haitian people. Through the present +instrumentalities no matter how earnestly the United States may desire +to be fair to Haiti and make intervention a success, it will not +succeed. An entirely new deal is necessary. This Government forced the +Haitian leaders to accept the promise of American aid and American +supervision. With that American aid the Haitian Government defaulted its +external and internal debt, an obligation, which under self-government +the Haitians had scrupulously observed. And American supervision turned +out to be a military tyranny supporting a program of economic +exploitation. The United States had an opportunity to gain the +confidence of the Haitian people. That opportunity has been destroyed. +When American troops first landed, although the Haitian people were +outraged, there was a feeling nevertheless which might well have +developed into cooperation. There were those who had hopes that the +United States, guided by its traditional policy of nearly a century and +a half, pursuing its fine stand in Cuba, under McKinley, Roosevelt, and +Taft, would extend aid that would be mutually beneficial to both +countries. Those Haitians who indulged this hope are disappointed and +bitter. Those members of the Haitian Assembly who, while acting under +coercion were nevertheless hopeful of American promises, incurred +unpopularity by voting for the Convention, are today bitterly +disappointed and utterly disillusioned. + +If the United States should leave Haiti today, it would leave more than +a thousand widows and orphans of its own making, more banditry than has +existed for a century, resentment, hatred and despair in the heart of a +whole people, to say nothing of the irreparable injury to its own +tradition as the defender of the rights of man. + +_From The Nation of September 4, 1920._ + + + + +III. GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND FOR THE NATIONAL CITY BANK + + +Former articles of this series described the Military Occupation of +Haiti and the crowd of civilian place holders as among the forces at +work in Haiti to maintain the present status in that country. But more +powerful though less obvious, and more sinister, because of its deep and +varied radications, is the force exercised by the National City Bank of +New York. It seeks more than the mere maintenance of the present status +in Haiti; it is constantly working to bring about a condition more +suitable and profitable to itself. Behind the Occupation, working +conjointly with the Department of State, stands this great banking +institution of New York and elsewhere. The financial potentates allied +with it are the ones who will profit by the control of Haiti. The +United States Marine Corps and the various office-holding "deserving +Democrats," who help maintain the status quo there, are in reality +working for great financial interests in this country, although Uncle +Sam and Haiti pay their salaries. + +Mr. Roger L. Farnham, vice-president of the National City Bank, was +effectively instrumental in bringing about American intervention in +Haiti. With the administration at Washington, the word of Mr. Farnham +supersedes that of anybody else on the island. While Mr. +Bailly-Blanchard, with the title of minister, is its representative in +name, Mr. Farnham is its representative in fact. His goings and comings +are aboard vessels of the United States Navy. His bank, the National +City, has been in charge of the Banque Nationale d'Haiti throughout the +Occupation.[1] Only a few weeks ago he was appointed receiver of the +National Railroad of Haiti, controlling practically the entire railway +system in the island with valuable territorial concessions in all +parts.[2] The $5,000,000 sugar plant at Port-au-Prince, it is commonly +reported, is about to fall into his hands. + +[Footnote 1: The National City Bank originally (about 1911) purchased +2,000 shares of the stock of the Banque Nationale d'Haiti. After the +Occupation it purchased 6,000 additional shares in the hands of three +New York banking firms. Since then it has been negotiating for the +complete control of the stock, the balance of which is held in France. +The contract for this transfer of the Bank and the granting of a new +charter under the laws of Haiti were agreed upon and signed at +Washington last February. But the delay in completing these arrangements +is caused by the impasse between the State Department and the National +City Bank, on the one hand, and the Haitian Government on the other, due +to the fact that the State Department and the National City Bank +insisted upon including in the contract a clause prohibiting the +importation and exportation of foreign money into Haiti subject only to +the control of the financial adviser. To this new power the Haitian +Government refuses to consent.] + +[Footnote 2: Originally, Mr. James P. McDonald secured from the Haitian +Government the concession to build the railroads under the charter of +the National Railways of Haiti. He arranged with W. R. Grace & Company +to finance the concession. Grace and Company formed a syndicate under +the aegis of the National City Bank which issued $2,500,000 bonds, sold +in France. These bonds were guaranteed by the Haitian Government at an +interest of 6 per cent on $32,500 for each mile. A short while after the +floating of these bonds, Mr. Farnham became President of the company. +The syndicate advanced another $2,000,000 for the completion of the +railroad in accordance with the concession granted by the Haitian +Government. This money was used, but the work was not completed in +accordance with the contract made by the Haitian Government in the +concession. The Haitian Government then refused any longer to pay the +interest on the mileage. These happenings were prior to 1915.] + +Now, of all the various responsibilities, expressed, implied, or assumed +by the United States in Haiti, it would naturally be supposed that the +financial obligation would be foremost. Indeed, the sister republic of +Santo Domingo was taken over by the United States Navy for no other +reason than failure to pay its internal debt. But Haiti for over one +hundred years scrupulously paid its external and internal debt--a fact +worth remembering when one hears of "anarchy and disorder" in that +land--until five years ago when under the financial guardianship of the +United States interest on both the internal and, with one exception, +external debt was defaulted; and this in spite of the fact that +specified revenues were pledged for the payment of this interest. Apart +from the distinct injury to the honor and reputation of the country, the +hardship on individuals has been great. For while the foreign debt is +held particularly in France which, being under great financial +obligations to the United States since the beginning of the war, has not +been able to protest effectively, the interior debt is held almost +entirely by Haitian citizens. Haitian Government bonds have long been +the recognized substantial investment for the well-to-do and middle +class people, considered as are in this country, United States, state, +and municipal bonds. Non-payment on these securities has placed many +families in absolute want. + +What has happened to these bonds? They are being sold for a song, for +the little cash they will bring. Individuals closely connected with the +National Bank of Haiti are ready purchasers. When the new Haitian loan +is floated it will, of course, contain ample provisions for redeeming +these old bonds at par. The profits will be more than handsome. Not that +the National Bank has not already made hay in the sunshine of American +Occupation. From the beginning it has been sole depositary of all +revenues collected in the name of the Haitian Government by the American +Occupation, receiving in addition to the interest rate a commission on +all funds deposited. The bank is the sole agent in the transmission of +these funds. It has also the exclusive note-issuing privilege in the +republic. At the same time complaint is widespread among the Haitian +business men that the Bank no longer as of old accommodates them with +credit and that its interests are now entirely in developments of its +own. + +Now, one of the promises that was made to the Haitian Government, partly +to allay its doubts and fears as to the purpose and character of the +American intervention, was that the United States would put the +country's finances on a solid and substantial basis. A loan for +$30,000,000 or more was one of the features of this promised assistance. +Pursuant, supposedly, to this plan, a Financial Adviser for Haiti was +appointed in the person of Mr. John Avery McIlhenny. Who is Mr. +McIlhenny? That he has the cordial backing and direction of so able a +financier as Mr. Farnham is comforting when one reviews the past record +and experience in finance of Haiti's Financial Adviser as given by him +in "Who's Who in America," for 1918-1919. He was born in Avery Island, +Iberia Parish, La.; went to Tulane University for one year; was a +private in the Louisiana State militia for five years; trooper in the +U.S. Cavalry in 1898; promoted to second lieutenancy for gallantry in +action at San Juan; has been member of the Louisiana House of +Representatives and Senate; was a member of the U. S. Civil Service +Commission in 1906 and president of the same in 1913; Democrat. It is +under his Financial Advisership that the Haitian interest has been +continued in default with the one exception above noted, when several +months ago $3,000,000 was converted into francs to meet the accumulated +interest payments on the foreign debt. Dissatisfaction on the part of +the Haitians developed over the lack of financial perspicacity in this +transaction of Mr. McIlhenny because the sum was converted into francs +at the rate of nine to a dollar while shortly after the rate of exchange +on French francs dropped to fourteen to a dollar. Indeed, Mr. +McIlhenny's unfitness by training and experience for the delicate and +important position which he is filling was one of the most generally +admitted facts which I gathered in Haiti. + +At the present writing, however, Mr. McIlhenny has become a conspicuous +figure in the history of the Occupation of Haiti as the instrument by +which the National City Bank is striving to complete the riveting, +double-locking and bolting of its financial control of the island. For +although it would appear that the absolute military domination under +which Haiti is held would enable the financial powers to accomplish +almost anything they desire, they are wise enough to realize that a day +of reckoning, such as, for instance, a change in the Administration in +the United States, may be coming. So they are eager and anxious to have +everything they want signed, sealed, and delivered. Anything, of course, +that the Haitians have fully "consented to" no one else can reasonably +object to. + +A little recent history: in February of the present year, the ministers +of the different departments, in order to conform to the letter of the +law (Article 116 of the Constitution of Haiti, which was saddled upon +her in 1918 by the Occupation[3] and Article 2 of the Haitian-American +Convention[4]) began work on the preparation of the accounts for +1918-1919 and the budget for 1920-1921. On March 22 a draft of the +budget was sent to Mr. A. J. Maumus, Acting Financial Adviser, in the +absence of Mr. McIlhenny who had at that time been in the United States +for seven months. Mr. Maumus replied on March 29, suggesting +postponement of all discussion of the budget until Mr. McIlhenny's +return. Nevertheless, the Legislative body, in pursuance of the law, +opened on its constitutional date, Monday, April 5. Despite the great +urgency of the matter in hand, the Haitian administration was obliged to +mark time until June 1, when Mr. McIlhenny returned to Haiti. Several +conferences with the various ministers were then undertaken. On June 12, +at one of these conferences, there arrived in the place of the Financial +Adviser a note stating that he would be obliged to stop all study of the +budget "until the time when certain affairs of considerable importance +to the well-being of the country shall be finally settled according to +recommendations made by me to the Haitian Government." As he did not +give in his note the slightest idea what these important affairs were, +the Haitian Secretary wrote asking for information, at the same time +calling attention to the already great and embarrassing delay, and +reminding Mr. McIlhenny that the preparation of the accounts and budget +was one of his legal duties as an official attached to the Haitian +Government, of which he could not divest himself. + +[Footnote 3: "The general accounts and the budgets prescribed by the +preceding article must be submitted to the Legislative Body by the +Secretary of Finance not later than eight days after the opening of the +Legislative Session."] + +[Footnote 4: "The President of Haiti shall appoint, on the nomination of +the President of the United States, a Financial Adviser who shall be +attached to the Ministry of Finance, to whom the Secretary (of Finance) +shall lend effective aid in the prosecution of his work. The Financial +Adviser shall work out a system of public accounting, shall aid in +increasing the revenues and in their adjustment to expenditures...."] + +On July 19 Mr. McIlhenny supplied his previous omission in a memorandum +which he transmitted to the Haitian Department of Finance, in which he +said: "I had instructions from the Department of State of the United +States just before my departure for Haiti, in a part of a letter of May +20, to declare to the Haitian Government that it was necessary to give +its immediate and formal approval to: + + 1. A modification of the Bank Contract agreed upon by the + Department of State and the National City Bank of New York. + + 2. Transfer of the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti to a + new bank registered under the laws of Haiti, to be known as the + National Bank of the Republic of Haiti. + + 3. The execution of Article 15 of the Contract of Withdrawal + prohibiting the importation and exportation of non-Haitian + money except that which might be necessary for the needs of + commerce in the opinion of the Financial Adviser." + +Now, what is the meaning and significance of these proposals? The full +details have not been given out, but it is known that they are part of a +new monetary law for Haiti involving the complete transfer of the Banque +Nationale d'Haiti to the National City Bank of New York. The document +embodying the agreements, with the exception of the clause prohibiting +the importation of foreign money, was signed at Washington, February 6, +1920, by Mr. McIlhenny, the Haitian Minister at Washington and the +Haitian Secretary of Finance. _The Haitian Government has officially +declared that the clause prohibiting the importation and exportation of +foreign money, except as it may be deemed necessary in the opinion of +the Financial Adviser, was added to the original agreement by some +unknown party._ It is for the purpose of compelling the Haitian +Government to approve the agreements, including the "prohibition +clause," that pressure is now being applied. Efforts on the part of +business interests in Haiti to learn the character and scope of what was +done at Washington have been thwarted by close secrecy. However, +sufficient of its import has become known to understand the reasons for +the unqualified and definite refusal of President Dartiguenave and the +Government to give their approval. Those reasons are that the agreements +would give to the National Bank of Haiti, and thereby to the National +City Bank of New York, exclusive monopoly upon the right of importing +and exporting American and other foreign money to and from Haiti, a +monopoly which would carry unprecedented and extraordinarily lucrative +privileges. + +The proposal involved in this agreement has called forth a vigorous +protest on the part of every important banking and business concern in +Haiti with the exception, of course, of the National Bank of Haiti. This +protest was transmitted to the Haitian Minister of Finance on July 30 +past. The protest is signed not only by Haitians and Europeans doing +business in that country but also by the leading American business +concerns, among which are The American Foreign Banking Corporation, The +Haitian-American Sugar Company, The Panama Railroad Steamship Line, The +Clyde Steamship Line, and The West Indies Trading Company. Among the +foreign signers are the Royal Bank of Canada, Le Comptoir Francais, Le +Comptoir Commercial, and besides a number of business firms. + +We have now in Haiti a triangular situation with the National City Bank +and our Department of State in two corners and the Haitian government in +the third. Pressure is being brought on the Haitian government to compel +it to grant a monopoly which on its face appears designed to give the +National City Bank a strangle hold on the financial life of that +country. With the Haitian government refusing to yield, we have the +Financial Adviser who is, according to the Haitian-American Convention, +a Haitian official charged with certain duties (in this case the +approval of the budget and accounts), refusing to carry out those duties +until the government yields to the pressure which is being brought. + +Haiti is now experiencing the "third degree." Ever since the Bank +Contract was drawn and signed at Washington increasing pressure has been +applied to make the Haitian government accept the clause prohibiting the +importation of foreign money. Mr. McIlhenny is now holding up the +salaries of the President, ministers of departments, members of the +Council of State, and the official interpreter. [These salaries have not +been paid since July 1.] And there the matter now stands. + +Several things may happen. The Administration, finding present methods +insufficient, may decide to act as in Santo Domingo, to abolish the +President, cabinet, and all civil government--as they have already +abolished the Haitian Assembly--and put into effect, by purely military +force, what, in the face of the unflinching Haitian refusal to sign away +their birthright, the combined military, civil, and financial pressure +has been unable to accomplish. Or, with an election and a probable +change of Administration in this country pending, with a Congressional +investigation foreshadowed, it may be decided that matters are "too +difficult" and the National City Bank may find that it can be more +profitably engaged elsewhere. Indications of such a course are not +lacking. From the point of view of the National City Bank, of course, +the institution has not only done nothing which is not wholly +legitimate, proper, and according to the canons of big business +throughout the world, but has actually performed constructive and +generous service to a backward and uncivilized people in attempting to +promote their railways, to develop their country, and to shape soundly +their finance. That Mr. Farnham and those associated with him hold these +views sincerely, there is no doubt. But that the Haitians, after over +one hundred years of self-government and liberty, contemplating the +slaughter of three thousand of their sons, the loss of their political +and economic freedom, without compensating advantages which they can +appreciate, feel very differently, is equally true. + +_From The Nation of September 11, 1920._ + + + + +IV. THE HAITIAN PEOPLE + + +The first sight of Port-au-Prince is perhaps most startling to the +experienced Latin-American traveler. Caribbean cities are of the +Spanish-American type--buildings square and squat, built generally +around a court, with residences and business houses scarcely +interdistinguishable. Port-au-Prince is rather a city of the French or +Italian Riviera. Across the bay of deepest blue the purple mountains of +Gonave loom against the Western sky, rivaling the bay's azure depths. +Back of the business section, spreading around the bay's great sweep and +well into the plain beyond, rise the green hills with their white +residences. The residential section spreads over the slopes and into the +mountain tiers. High up are the homes of the well-to-do, beautiful +villas set in green gardens relieved by the flaming crimson of the +poinsettia. Despite the imposing mountains a man-made edifice dominates +the scene. From the center of the city the great Gothic cathedral lifts +its spires above the tranquil city. Well-paved and clean, the city +prolongs the thrill of its first unfolding. Cosmopolitan yet quaint, +with an old-world atmosphere yet a charm of its own, one gets throughout +the feeling of continental European life. In the hotels and cafes the +affairs of the world are heard discussed in several languages. The +cuisine and service are not only excellent but inexpensive. At the Cafe +Dereix, cool and scrupulously clean, dinner from _hors d'oeuvres_ to +_glaces_, with wine, of course, recalling the famous antebellum +hostelries of New York and Paris, may be had for six gourdes [$1.25]. + +A drive of two hours around Port-au-Prince, through the newer section of +brick and concrete buildings, past the cathedral erected from 1903 to +1912, along the Champ de Mars where the new presidential palace stands, +up into the Peu de Choses section where the hundreds of beautiful villas +and grounds of the well-to-do are situated, permanently dispels any +lingering question that the Haitians have been retrograding during the +116 years of their independence. + +In the lower city, along the water's edge, around the market and in the +Rue Republicaine, is the "local color." The long rows of wooden +shanties, the curious little booths around the market, filled with +jabbering venders and with scantily clad children, magnificent in body, +running in and out, are no less picturesque and no more primitive, no +humbler, yet cleaner, than similar quarters in Naples, in Lisbon, in +Marseilles, and more justifiable than the great slums of civilization's +centers--London and New York, which are totally without aesthetic +redemption. But it is only the modernists in history who are willing to +look at the masses as factors in the life and development of the +country, and in its history. For Haitian history, like history the world +over, has for the last century been that of cultured and educated +groups. To know Haitian life one must have the privilege of being +received as a guest in the houses of these latter, and they live in +beautiful houses. The majority have been educated in France; they are +cultured, brilliant conversationally, and thoroughly enjoy their social +life. The women dress well. Many are beautiful and all vivacious and +chic. Cultivated people from any part of the world would feel at home in +the best Haitian society. If our guest were to enter to the Cercle +Bellevue, the leading club of Port-au-Prince, he would find the +courteous, friendly atmosphere of a men's club; he would hear varying +shades of opinion on public questions, and could scarcely fail to be +impressed by the thorough knowledge of world affairs possessed by the +intelligent Haitian. Nor would his encounters be only with people who +have culture and savoir vivre; he would meet the Haitian +intellectuals--poets, essayists, novelists, historians, critics. Take +for example such a writer as Fernand Hibbert. An English authority says +of him, "His essays are worthy of the pen of Anatole France or Pierre +Loti." And there is Georges Sylvaine, poet and essayist, conferencier at +the Sorbonne, where his address was received with acclaim, author of +books crowned by the French Academy, and an Officer of the Legion +d'Honneur. Hibbert and Sylvaine are only two among a dozen or more +contemporary Haitian men of letters whose work may be measured by world +standards. Two names that stand out preeminently in Haitian literature +are Oswald Durand, the national poet, who died a few years ago, and +Damocles Vieux. These people, educated, cultured, and intellectual, are +not accidental and sporadic offshoots of the Haitian people; they _are_ +the Haitian people and they are a demonstration of its inherent +potentialities. + +However, Port-au-Prince is not all of Haiti. Other cities are smaller +replicas, and fully as interesting are the people of the country +districts. Perhaps the deepest impression on the observant visitor is +made by the country women. Magnificent as they file along the country +roads by scores and by hundreds on their way to the town markets, with +white or colored turbaned heads, gold-looped-ringed ears, they stride +along straight and lithe, almost haughtily, carrying themselves like so +many Queens of Sheba. The Haitian country people are kind-hearted, +hospitable, and polite, seldom stupid but rather, quick-witted and +imaginative. Fond of music, with a profound sense of beauty and harmony, +they live simply but wholesomely. Their cabins rarely consist of only +one room, the humblest having two or three, with a little shed front and +back, a front and rear entrance, and plenty of windows. An aesthetic +touch is never lacking--a flowering hedge or an arbor with trained vines +bearing gorgeous colored blossoms. There is no comparison between the +neat plastered-wall, thatched-roof cabin of the Haitian peasant and the +traditional log hut of the South or the shanty of the more wretched +American suburbs. The most notable feature about the Haitian cabin is +its invariable cleanliness. At daylight the country people are up and +about, the women begin their sweeping till the earthen or pebble-paved +floor of the cabin is clean as can be. Then the yards around the cabin +are vigorously attacked. In fact, nowhere in the country districts of +Haiti does one find the filth and squalor which may be seen in any +backwoods town in our own South. Cleanliness is a habit and a dirty +Haitian is a rare exception. The garments even of the men who work on +the wharves, mended and patched until little of the original cloth is +visible, give evidence of periodical washing. The writer recalls a +remark made by Mr. E. P. Pawley, an American, who conducts one of the +largest business enterprises in Haiti. He said that the Haitians were an +exceptionally clean people, that statistics showed that Haiti imported +more soap per capita than any country in the world, and added, "They use +it, too." Three of the largest soap manufactories in the United States +maintain headquarters at Port-au-Prince. + +The masses of the Haitian people are splendid material for the building +of a nation. They are not lazy; on the contrary, they are industrious +and thrifty. Some observers mistakenly confound primitive methods with +indolence. Anyone who travels Haitian roads is struck by the hundreds +and even thousands of women, boys, and girls filing along mile after +mile with their farm and garden produce on their heads or loaded on the +backs of animals. With modern facilities, they could market their +produce much more efficiently and with far less effort. But lacking them +they are willing to walk and carry. For a woman to walk five to ten +miles with a great load of produce on her head which may barely realize +her a dollar is doubtless primitive, and a wasteful expenditure of +energy, but it is not a sign of laziness. Haiti's great handicap has +been not that her masses are degraded or lazy or immoral. It is that +they are ignorant, due not so much to mental limitations as to enforced +illiteracy. There is a specific reason for this. Somehow the French +language, in the French-American colonial settlements containing a Negro +population, divided itself into two branches, French and Creole. This is +true of Louisiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and also of Haiti. Creole is +an Africanized French and must not be thought of as a mere dialect. The +French-speaking person cannot understand Creole, excepting a few words, +unless he learns it. Creole is a distinct tongue, a graphic and very +expressive language. Many of its constructions follow closely the +African idioms. For example, in forming the superlative of greatness, +one says in Creole, "He is great among great men," and a merchant woman, +following the native idiom, will say, "You do not wish anything +beautiful if you do not buy this." The upper Haitian class, +approximately 500,000, speak and know French, while the masses, probably +more than 2,000,000 speak only Creole. Haitian Creole is grammatically +constructed, but has not to any general extent been reduced to writing. +Therefore, these masses have no means of receiving or communicating +thoughts through the written word. They have no books to read. They +cannot read the newspapers. The children of the masses study French for +a few years in school, but it never becomes their every-day language. In +order to abolish Haitian illiteracy, Creole must be made a printed as +well as a spoken language. The failure to undertake this problem is the +worst indictment against the Haitian Government. + +This matter of language proves a handicap to Haiti in another manner. It +isolates her from her sister republics. All of the Latin-American +republics except Brazil speak Spanish and enjoy an intercourse with the +outside world denied Haiti. Dramatic and musical companies from Spain, +from Mexico and from the Argentine annually tour all of the +Spanish-speaking republics. Haiti is deprived of all such instruction +and entertainment from the outside world because it is not profitable +for French companies to visit the three or four French-speaking islands +in the Western Hemisphere. + +Much stress has been laid on the bloody history of Haiti and its +numerous revolutions. Haitian history has been all too bloody, but so +has that of every other country, and the bloodiness of the Haitian +revolutions has of late been unduly magnified. A writer might visit our +own country and clip from our daily press accounts of murders, robberies +on the principal streets of our larger cities, strike violence, race +riots, lynchings, and burnings at the stake of human beings, and write a +book to prove that life is absolutely unsafe in the United States. The +seriousness of the frequent Latin-American revolutions has been greatly +over-emphasized. The writer has been in the midst of three of these +revolutions and must confess that the treatment given them on our comic +opera stage is very little farther removed from the truth than the +treatment which is given in the daily newspapers. Not nearly so bloody +as reported, their interference with people not in politics is almost +negligible. Nor should it be forgotten that in almost every instance the +revolution is due to the plotting of foreigners backed up by their +Governments. No less an authority than Mr. John H. Allen, vice-president +of the National City Bank of New York, writing on Haiti in the May +number of _The Americas_, the National City Bank organ, who says, "It is +no secret that the revolutions were financed by foreigners and were +profitable speculations." + +In this matter of change of government by revolution, Haiti must not be +compared with the United States or with England; it must be compared +with other Latin American republics. When it is compared with our next +door neighbor, Mexico, it will be found that the Government of Haiti has +been more stable and that the country has experienced less bloodshed and +anarchy. And it must never be forgotten that throughout not an American +or other foreigner has been killed, injured or, as far as can be +ascertained, even molested. In Haiti's 116 years of independence, there +have been twenty-five presidents and twenty-five different +administrations. In Mexico, during its 99 years of independence, there +have been forty-seven rulers and eighty-seven administrations. "Graft" +has been plentiful, shocking at times, but who in America, where the +Tammany machines and the municipal rings are notorious, will dare to +point the finger of scorn at Haiti in this connection. + +And this is the people whose "inferiority," whose "retrogression," whose +"savagery," is advanced as a justification for intervention--for the +ruthless slaughter of three thousand of its practically defenseless +sons, with the death of a score of our own boys, for the utterly selfish +exploitation of the country by American big finance, for the destruction +of America's most precious heritage--her traditional fair play, her +sense of justice, her aid to the oppressed. "Inferiority" always was the +excuse of ruthless imperialism until the Germans invaded Belgium, when +it became "military necessity." In the case of Haiti there is not the +slightest vestige of any of the traditional justifications, unwarranted +as these generally are, and no amount of misrepresentation in an era +when propaganda and censorship have had their heyday, no amount of +slander, even in a country deeply prejudiced where color is involved, +will longer serve to obscure to the conscience of America the eternal +shame of its last five years in Haiti. _Fiat justitia, ruat coelum!_ + +_From The Nation of September 25, 1920._ + + + + +Documents + +_The following are from The Nation of August 28, 1920_ + +The Proposed Convention with Haiti + + +The Fuller Convention, submitted to the Haitian Minister of Foreign +Affairs on May 22, 1915, by Mr. Paul Fuller, Jr., Envoy Extraordinary of +the United States to Haiti, read as follows, the preliminary and +concluding paragraphs being omitted: + + 1. The Government of the United States of America will protect + the Republic of Haiti from outside attack and from the + aggression of any foreign Power, and to that end will employ + such forces of the army and navy of the United States as may be + necessary. + + 2. The Government of the United States of America will aid the + Government of Haiti to suppress insurrection from within and + will give effective support by the employment of the armed + forces of the United States army and navy to the extent needed. + + 3. The President of the Republic of Haiti covenants that no + rights, privileges, or facilities of any description whatsoever + will be granted, sold, leased, or otherwise accorded directly + or indirectly by the Government of Haiti concerning the + occupation or use of the Mole Saint-Nicolas to any foreign + government or to a national or the nationals of any other + foreign government. + + 4. The President of the Republic of Haiti covenants that within + six months from the signing of this convention, the Government + will enter into an arbitration agreement for the settlement of + such claims as American citizens or other foreigners may have + against the Government of Haiti, such arbitration agreement to + provide for the equal treatment of all foreigners to the end + that the people of Haiti may have the benefit of competition + between the nationals of all countries. + + + + +The Haitian Counter-Project + + +The counter-project of the Haitian Government, of June 4, 1915, with +such of the modifications suggested by Mr. Fuller as the Haitian +Government was willing to accept, read as follows: + + I. The Government of the United States of America will lend its + assistance to the Republic of Haiti for the preservation of its + independence. For that purpose it agrees to intervene to + prevent the intrusion of any Power and to repulse any act of + aggression against the Republic of Haiti. To that end it will + employ such forces of the army and navy of the United States as + may be necessary. + + II. The Government of the United States will facilitate the + entry into Haiti of sufficient capital to assure the full + economic development of that country, and to improve, within + the immediate future, its financial situation, especially to + bring about the unification of its debt in such fashion as to + reduce the customs guaranties now required, and to lead to a + fundamental money reform. + + In order to give such capital all desirable guaranties the + Government of Haiti agrees to employ in the customs service + only officials whose ability and character are well known, and + to replace those who in practice are found not to fill these + conditions. + + The Government of Haiti will also assure the protection of + capital and in general of all foreign interests by the + organization of a mounted rural constabulary trained in the + most modern methods. + + In the meantime if it be necessary the Government of the United + States, after consultation with the Government of Haiti, will + give its aid in the repression of serious disorders or troubles + which might compromise these foreign interests. + + The American forces which have in the given circumstances + cooperated with the Haitian troops in the restoration of order, + should be retired from Haitian territory at the first request + of the constitutional authority. + + III. The President of the Republic of Haiti covenants that no + rights, privileges, or facilities of any description whatsoever + will be granted, sold, leased, or otherwise accorded directly + or indirectly by the Government of Haiti concerning the + occupation or use of the Mole Saint-Nicolas to any foreign + government or to a national or the nationals of any other + foreign government. + + IV. The President of the Republic of Haiti covenants within six + months of the signing of this convention to sign a convention + of arbitration with the Powers concerned for the settlement of + the diplomatic claims pending, which arbitration convention + will provide for the equal treatment of all claimants, no + special privileges being granted to any of them. + + V. In case of difficulties regarding the interpretation of the + clauses of the present convention, the high contracting parties + agree to submit the difference to the Permanent Court of + Arbitration at The Hague. + +Mr. Fuller had suggested a further modification which the Haitian +Government refused. It changed the final paragraph of Article II to +read: "The American forces which have in the given circumstance +cooperated with the Haitian troops, shall, when order has been +reestablished, be retired," etc. His other suggestions were accepted +with unimportant verbal changes. + + + + +The Haitian-United States Convention + + +The convention between the United States and Haiti was ratified on +September 16, 1915, after the occupation of the country by American +troops. In its final form it is in interesting contrast with the +suggested agreements printed above. + + The United States and the Republic of Haiti, desiring to + confirm and strengthen the amity existing between them by the + most cordial cooperation in measures for their common + advantage, and the Republic of Haiti desiring to remedy the + present condition of its revenues and finances, to maintain the + tranquillity of the Republic, to carry out plans for the + economic development and prosperity of the Republic and its + people, and the United States being in full sympathy with all + of these aims and objects and desiring to contribute in all + proper ways to their accomplishment; + + The United States and the Republic of Haiti have resolved to + conclude a convention with these objects in view, and have + appointed for that purpose plenipotentiaries: + + The President of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. Louis Borno, + Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Public Instruction, + + The President of the United States, Mr. Robert Beale Davis, + Jr., Charge d'Affaires of the United States of America; + + Who, having exhibited to each other their respective powers, + which are seen to be full in good and true form, have agreed as + follows: + + ARTICLE I. The Government of the United States will, by its + good offices, aid the Haitian Government in the proper and + efficient development of its agricultural, mineral, and + commercial resources and in the establishment of the finances + of Haiti on a firm and solid basis. + + ARTICLE II. The President of Haiti shall appoint, upon + nomination by the President of the United States, a General + Receiver and such aids and employees as may be necessary, who + shall collect, receive, and apply all customs duties on imports + and exports accruing at the several customs-houses and ports of + entry of the Republic of Haiti. + + The President of Haiti shall appoint, upon nomination by the + President of the United States, a Financial Adviser who shall + be an officer attached to the Ministry of Finance, to give + effect to whose proposals and labors the Minister will lend + efficient aid. The Financial Adviser shall devise an adequate + system of public accounting, aid in increasing the revenues and + adjusting them to the expenses, inquire into the validity of + the debts of the Republic, enlighten both governments with + reference to all eventual debts, recommend improved methods of + collecting and applying the revenues, and make such other + recommendations to the Minister of Finance as may be deemed + necessary for the welfare and prosperity of Haiti. + + ARTICLE III. The Government of the Republic of Haiti will + provide by law or appropriate decrees for the payment of all + customs duties to the General Receiver, and will extend to the + Receivership, and to the Financial Adviser, all needful aid and + full protection in the execution of the powers conferred and + duties imposed herein; and the United States on its part will + extend like aid and protection. + + ARTICLE IV. Upon the appointment of the Financial Adviser, the + Government of the Republic of Haiti in cooperation with the + Financial Adviser, shall collate, classify, arrange, and make + full statement of all the debts of the Republic, the amounts, + character, maturity, and condition thereof, and the interest + accruing and the sinking fund requisite to their final + discharge. + + ARTICLE V. All sums collected and received by the General + Receiver shall be applied, first to the payment of the salaries + and allowances of the General Receiver, his assistants, and + employees and expenses of the Receivership, including the + salary and expenses of the Financial Adviser, which salaries + will be determined by the previous agreement; second, to the + interest and sinking fund of the public debt of the Republic of + Haiti; and third, to the maintenance of the constabulary + referred to in Article X, and then the remainder to the Haitian + Government for the purposes of current expenses. + + In making these applications the General Receiver will proceed + to pay salaries and allowances monthly and expenses as they + arise, and on the first of each calendar month will set aside + in a separate fund the quantum of the collections and receipts + of the previous month. + + ARTICLE VI. The expenses of the Receivership, including + salaries and allowances of the General Receiver, his + assistants, and employees, and the salary and expenses of the + Financial Adviser, shall not exceed 5 per cent of the + collections and receipts from customs duties, unless by + agreement by the two governments. + + ARTICLE VII. The General Receiver shall make monthly reports of + all collections, receipts, and disbursements to the appropriate + officers of the Republic of Haiti and to the Department of + State of the United States, which reports shall be open to + inspection and verification at all times by the appropriate + authorities of each of the said governments. + + ARTICLE VIII. The Republic of Haiti shall not increase its + public debt, except by previous agreement with the President of + the United States, and shall not contract any debt or assume + any financial obligation unless the ordinary revenues of the + Republic available for that purpose, after defraying the + expenses of the Government, shall be adequate to pay the + interest and provide a sinking fund for the final discharge of + such debt. + + ARTICLE IX. The Republic of Haiti will not, without the assent + of the President of the United States, modify the customs + duties in a manner to reduce the revenues therefrom; and in + order that the revenues of the Republic may be adequate to meet + the public debt and the expenses of the Government, to preserve + tranquillity, and to promote material prosperity, the Republic + of Haiti will cooperate with the Financial Adviser in his + recommendations for improvement in the methods of collecting + and disbursing the revenues and for new sources of needed + income. + + ARTICLE X. The Haitian Government obligates itself, for the + preservation of domestic peace, the security of individual + rights, and the full observance of the provisions of this + treaty, to create without delay an efficient constabulary, + urban and rural, composed of native Haitians. This constabulary + shall be organized and officered by Americans appointed by the + President of Haiti, upon nomination by the President of the + United States. The Haitian Government shall clothe these + officers with the proper and necessary authority and uphold + them in the performance of their functions. These officers will + be replaced by Haitians as they, by examination conducted under + direction of a board to be selected by the senior American + officer of this constabulary in the presence of a + representative of the Haitian Government, are found to be + qualified to assume such duties. The constabulary herein + provided for shall, under the direction of the Haitian + Government, have supervision and control of arms and + ammunition, military supplies and traffic therein, throughout + the country. The high contracting parties agree that the + stipulations in this article are necessary to prevent factional + strife and disturbances. + + ARTICLE XI. The Government of Haiti agrees not to surrender any + of the territory of the Republic of Haiti by sale, lease, or + otherwise, or jurisdiction over such territory, to any foreign + government or Power, nor to enter into any treaty or contract + with any foreign Power or Powers that will impair or tend to + impair the independence of Haiti. + + ARTICLE XII. The Haitian Government agrees to execute with the + United States a protocol for the settlement, by arbitration or + otherwise, of all pending pecuniary claims of foreign + corporations, companies, citizens, or subjects against Haiti. + + ARTICLE XIII. The Republic of Haiti, being desirous to further + the development of its natural resources, agrees to undertake + and execute such measures as, in the opinion of the high + contracting parties, may be necessary for the sanitation and + public improvement of the Republic under the supervision and + direction of an engineer or engineers, to be appointed by the + President of Haiti upon nomination of the President of the + United States, and authorized for that purpose by the + Government of Haiti. + + ARTICLE XIV. The high contracting parties shall have authority + to take such steps as may be necessary to insure the complete + attainment of any of the objects comprehended in this treaty; + and should the necessity occur, the United States will lend an + efficient aid for the preservation of Haitian independence and + the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of + life, property, and individual liberty. + + ARTICLE XV. The present treaty shall be approved and ratified + by the high contracting parties in conformity with their + respective laws, and the ratifications thereof shall be + exchanged in the City of Washington as soon as may be possible. + + ARTICLE XVI. The present treaty shall remain in full force and + virtue for the term of ten years, to be counted from the day of + exchange of ratifications, and further for another term of ten + years if, for specific reasons presented by either of the high + contracting parties, the purpose of this treaty has not been + fully accomplished. + + In faith whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed + the present convention in duplicate, in the English and French + languages, and have thereunto affixed their seals. + + Done at Port-au-Prince (Haiti), the 16th day of September + in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifteen. + + ROBERT BEALE DAVIS, JR., + Charge d'Affaires of the United States + + LOUIS BORNO, + Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs + and Public Instruction + + + + +The New Constitution of Haiti + + +The new Constitution of the Republic of Haiti, ratified under the +American Occupation, altered the former Constitution in regard to the +important subject of the right of foreigners to hold land. Article 6 of +the old Constitution reads: + + No one, unless he is a Haitian, may be a holder of land in + Haiti, regardless of what his title may be, nor acquire any + real estate. + +Article 5 of the Constitution of 1918 makes the following provision: + + The right to hold property is given to foreigners residing in + Haiti, and to societies formed by foreigners, for dwelling + purposes and for agricultural, commercial, industrial, or + educational enterprises. This right shall be discontinued five + years after the foreigner shall have ceased to reside in the + country, or when the activities of these companies shall have + ceased. + + + + +The Haitian President's Proclamation + + +In the _Moniteur_, official organ of the Republic of Haiti, for +September 4, 1915, in a column headed "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," +the president of Haiti published a proclamation on the situation arising +from the occupation by American troops of the customs-house at +Port-au-Prince. + + Haitians! At the very moment when the Government, engaged in + negotiations to settle the question of the presence of American + military forces on Haitian territory, was looking forward to a + prompt solution in accordance with law and justice, it finds + itself faced with the simple seizure of possession of the + customs administration of the capital. + + Previously the customs-houses of several other cities of the + republic had been occupied in like fashion, and whenever the + news of such occupation reached the National Palace or the + Department of Finances, it was followed by an energetic + protest, demanding that the diplomatic representative of the + American Government residing at Port-au-Prince restore the + customs-houses and put an end to acts so contrary to the + relations at present existing between the Government of Haiti + and the Government of the United States of North America. + + Haitians! In bringing these facts officially to the attention + of the country, I owe it to myself to declare further, in the + most formal fashion, to you and to the entire civilized world, + that the order to carry out these acts so destructive of the + interests, rights, and sovereignty of the Haitian people is not + due to anything which can be cited against the patriotism, + devotion, spirit of sacrifice, and loyalty of those to whom the + destinies of the country have been intrusted. You are the + judges of that. + + Nor will I conceal the fact that my astonishment is greater + because the negotiations, which had been undertaken in the hope + of an agreement upon the basis of propositions presented by the + American Government itself, after having passed through the + ordinary phases of diplomatic discussion, with frankness and + courtesy on both sides, have now been relieved of the only + obstacles which had hitherto appeared to stand in their way. + + Haitians! In this agonizing situation, more than tragic for + every truly Haitian soul, the Government, which intends to + preserve full national sovereignty, will be able to maintain + the necessary resolution only if all are united in exercising + their intelligence and energy with it in the present task of + saving the nation.... + + SUDRE DARTIGUENAVE + + Given at the National Palace, September 2, 1915, in the 112th + year of our independence. + + + + +_The following are from the Nation of September 11, 1920_ + +Why Haiti Has No Budget + + +At the session of the Haitian National Assembly on August 4, the +President of the Republic of Haiti and the Haitian Minister of Finance +laid before that body the course of the American Financial Adviser which +had made it impossible to submit to the Assembly accounts and budgets in +accordance with the Constitution of Haiti and the Haiti-American +Convention. The statement which follows is taken from the official +Haitian gazette, the _Moniteur_ of August 7. + + MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT + + Gentlemen of the Council of State: On account of unforeseen + circumstances it has not been possible for the Government of + the Republic to present to you in the course of the session of + your high assembly which closes today (August 4) the general + accounts of the receipts and expenditures for 1918-1919 and the + budget for 1920-1921, in accordance with the Constitution. + + It is certainly an exceptional case, the gravity of which will + not escape you. You will learn the full details from the report + which the Secretary of Finance and Commerce will submit to you, + in which it will be shown that the responsibility for it does + not fall on the Executive Power.... + + In the life of every people there come moments when it must + know how to be resigned and to suffer. Are we facing one of + those moments? The attitude of the Haitian people, calm and + dignified, persuades me that, marching closely with the + Government of the Republic, there is no suffering which it is + not disposed to undergo to safeguard and secure the triumph of + its rights. + + DARTIGUENAVE + + + REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND COMMERCE + + Gentlemen of the Council of State: Article 116 of the + Constitution prescribes in its first paragraph: "The general + accounts and the budgets prescribed by the preceding article + must be submitted to the legislative body by the Secretary of + Finance not later than eight days after the opening of the + legislative session." + + And Article 2 of the American-Haitian Convention of September + 16, 1915, stipulates in its second paragraph: "The President of + Haiti shall appoint, on the nomination of the President of the + United States, a Financial Adviser, _who shall be a civil + servant attached to the Ministry of Finance_, to whom the + Secretary shall lend effective aid in the prosecution of his + work. The Financial Adviser shall work out a system of public + accounting, shall aid in increasing the revenues and in their + adjustment to expenditures...." + + Since February of this year (1920) the secretaries of the + various departments, in order to conform to the letter of + Article 116 of the Constitution, and to assure continuity of + public service in the matter of receipts and expenditures, set + to work at the preparation of the budgets for their departments + for 1920-21. + + By a dispatch dated March 22, 1920, the Department of Finance + sent the draft budgets to Mr. A. J. Maumus, Acting Financial + Adviser, for preliminary study by that official. But the Acting + Adviser replied to the Department by a letter, of March 29: "I + suggest that, in view of the early return of Mr. John + McIlhenny, the Financial Adviser, measures be taken to postpone + all discussion regarding the said draft budgets between the + different departments and the Office [of the Financial Adviser] + to permit him to take part in the discussions." + + Nevertheless, the regular session was opened on the + constitutional date, Monday, April 5, 1920. Mr. John McIlhenny, + the titular Financial Adviser, absent in the United States + since October, 1919, on a financial mission for the Government, + prolonged his stay in America, detained no doubt by the + insurmountable difficulties in the accomplishment of his + mission (the placing of a Haitian loan on the New York market). + Since on the one hand the Adviser could not overcome these + difficulties, and on the other hand his presence at + Port-au-Prince was absolutely necessary for the preparation of + the budget in conformity with the Constitution and the + Haitian-American Convention, the Government deemed it essential + to ask him to return to Port-au-Prince for that purpose. The + Government in so doing secured the good offices of the American + Legation, and Mr. McIlhenny returned from the United States + about the first of June. The Legislature had already been in + session almost two months. + + About June 15 the Adviser began the study of the budget with + the secretaries. The conferences lasted about twelve days, and + in that time, after courteous discussions, after some cuts, + modifications, and additions, plans for the following budgets + were agreed upon: + + 1. Ways and Means + 2. Foreign Relations + 3. Finance and Commerce + 4. Interior + + On Monday, July 12, at 3.30, the hour agreed upon between the + ministers and the Adviser, the ministers met to continue the + study of the budget which they wanted to finish quickly.... + Between 4 and 4:30 the Secretary of Finance received a letter + from the Adviser which reads as follows: + + "I find myself obliged to stop all study of the budget until + certain affairs of considerable importance for the welfare of + the country shall have been finally settled according to the + recommendations made by me to the Haitian Government. + + "Please accept, Mr. Secretary, the assurance of my highest + consideration, + JOHN MCILHENNY" + + Such an unanticipated and unjustifiable decision on the part of + Mr. McIlhenny, an official attached to the Ministry of Finance, + caused the whole Government profound surprise and warranted + dissatisfaction.... + + On July 13 the Department of Finance replied to the Financial + Adviser as follows: + + "I beg to acknowledge your letter of July 12, in which you say, + 'I find myself obliged, etc....' + + "In taking note of this declaration, the importance and gravity + of which certainly cannot escape you, I can only regret in the + name of the Government: + + "1. That you omitted to tell me with the precision which such + an emergency demands what are the affairs of an importance so + considerable for the welfare of the country and the settlement + of which, according to the recommendations made by you, is of + such great moment that you can subordinate to that settlement + the continuation of the work on the budget? + + "2. That you have taken such a serious step without considering + that in so doing you have divested yourself of one of the + essential functions which devolves upon you as Financial + Adviser attached to the Department of Finance. + + "The preparation of the budget of the state constitutes one of + the principal obligations of those intrusted with it by law, + because the very life of the nation depends upon its + elaboration. The Legislature has been in session since April 5 + last. By the Constitution the draft budgets and the general + accounts should be submitted to the legislative body within + eight days after the opening of the session, that is to say by + April 13. The draft budgets were sent to your office on March + 22. + + "By reason of your absence from the country, the examination of + these drafts was postponed, the acting Financial Adviser not + being willing to shoulder the responsibility; we refer you to + his letters of March 29 and of April 17 and 24. Finally ... you + came back to Port-au-Prince, and after some two weeks, you + began with the secretaries to study the draft budgets. + + "The Government therefore experiences a very disagreeable + surprise on reading your letter of July 12. It becomes my duty + to inform you of that disagreeable surprise, to formulate the + legal reservations in the case, and to inform you finally that + you bear the sole responsibility for the failure to present the + budget in due time. + "FLEURY FEQUIERE, Secretary of Finance" + + On July 19, Mr. Bailly-Blanchard, the American Minister, placed + in the hands of the President of the Republic a memorandum + emanating from Mr. McIlhenny, in which the latter formulates + against the Government complaints sufficient, according to him, + to explain and justify the discontinuance of the preparation of + the budget, announced in his letter of July 12. + + + _Memorandum of Mr. McIlhenny_ + + I had instructions from the Department of State of the United + States just before my departure for Haiti, in a passage of a + letter of May 20, to declare to the Haitian Government that it + was necessary to give its immediate and formal approval: + + 1. To a modification of the Bank Contract agreed upon by the + Department of State and the National City Bank of New York. + + 2. To the transfer of the National Bank of the Republic of + Haiti to a new bank registered under the laws of Haiti to be + known as the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti. + + 3. To the execution of Article 15 of the Contract of + Withdrawal, prohibiting the importation and exportation of + non-Haitian money, except that which might be necessary for the + needs of commerce in the opinion of the Financial Adviser. + + 4. To the immediate vote of a territorial law which has been + submitted to the Department of State of the United States and + which has its approval. + + On my arrival in Haiti I visited the President with the + American Minister and learned that the modifications of the + bank contract and the transfer of the bank had been agreed to + and the only reason why the measure had not been made official + was because the National City Bank and the National Bank of + Haiti had not yet presented to the Government their full + powers. He declared that the Government did not agree to the + publication of a decree executing the Contract of Withdrawal + because it did not consider that the economic condition of the + country justified it at that time. To which I replied that the + Government of the United States expected the execution of + Article 15 of the Contract of Withdrawal as a direct and solemn + engagement of the Haitian Government, to which it was a party, + and I had instructions to insist upon its being put into + execution at once.... + + + _The Counter Memoir_ + + To this memorandum the Executive Authority replied by a counter + memoir which read in part as follows: + + "The modifications proposed by the Department of State [of the + United States] to the bank contract, studied by the Haitian + Government, gave rise to counter propositions on the part of + the latter, which the Department of State would not accept. The + Haitian Government then accepted these modifications in nine + articles in the form in which they had been concluded and + signed at Washington, on Friday, February 6, 1920, by the + Financial Adviser, the Haitian Minister, and the [Haitian] + Secretary of Finance. But when Messrs. Scarpa and Williams, + representing respectively and officially the National Bank of + Haiti and the National City Bank of New York, came before the + Secretary of Finance for his signature to the papers relative + to the transfer of the National Bank of Haiti to the National + City Bank of New York, the Secretary of Finance experienced a + disagreeable surprise in finding out that to Article 9 of the + document signed at Washington, February 6, 1920, and closed as + stated above, there had been added an amendment bearing on the + prohibition of non-Haitian money. The Secretary could only + decline the responsibility of this added paragraph of which he + had not the slightest knowledge and which consequently had not + been submitted to the Government for its agreement. It is for + this reason alone that the agreement is not signed up to this + time. The Government does not even yet know who was the author + of this addition to the document to which its consent had never + been asked." + + Today, gentlemen, you have come to the end of the regular + session for this year. Four months have run by without the + Government being able to present to you the budget for + 1920-1921.... Such are the facts, in brief, that have marked + our relations recently with Mr. McIlhenny.... + + FLEURY FEQUIERE, Secretary of Finance + + + + +The Businessmen's Protest + + +The protest printed below, against Article 15 of the Contract of +Withdrawal, was sent to the Haitian Secretary of Finance on July 30. + + The undersigned bankers, merchants, and representatives of the + various branches of the financial and commercial activities in + Haiti have the honor to submit to the high appreciation of the + Secretary of State for Finance the following consideration: + + They have been advised from certain sources that pressing + recommendations have been made to the Government of Haiti. + + 1. That a law be immediately voted by which would be prohibited + the importation or exportation of all money not Haitian, except + that quantity of foreign money which, in the opinion of the + Financial Adviser, would be sufficient for the needs of + commerce. + + 2. That in the charter of the Banque Nationale de la Republique + d'Haiti there be inserted an article giving power to the + Financial Adviser together with the Banque Nationale de la + Republique d'Haiti to take all measures concerning the + importation or exportation of non-Haitian monies. + + The undersigned declare that the adoption of such a measure, + under whatever form it may be, would be of a nature generally + contrary to the collective interests of the Haitian people and + the industry of Haiti. It would be dangerous to substitute the + will of a single man, however eminent he might be, however + honorable, however infallible, for a natural law which + regulates the movements of the monetary circulation in a + country. + + It would be more dangerous yet to introduce in the contract of + the Banque Nationale de la Republique d'Haiti a clause which + would assure this establishment a sort of monopoly in the + foreign money market, which constitutes the principal base of + the operations of high commerce, when it has already the + exclusive privilege of emission of bank notes. Such a clause + would make of all other bankers and merchants its humble + tributaries, obeying its law and its caprices.... + + (Signed) THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA; AMERICAN FOREIGN BANKING + CORPORATION; HAITIAN AMERICAN SUGAR CO.; RAPOREL S.S. LINE; + P. C. S.; ELECTRIC LIGHT CO.; PANAMA LINE; ED. ESTEVE & CO.; + CLYDE LINE; COMPTOIR COMMERCIAL; GEBARA & CO.; ALFRED VIEUX; + V. G. MAKHLOUF; N. SILVERA; SIMMONDS FRERES; ROBERTS, DUTTON & + CO.; WEST INDIES TRADING CO.; J. FADOUL & CO.; R. BROUARD; A. DE + MATTEIS & CO.; J. M. RICHARDSON & CO.; COMPTOIR FRANCAIS; H. + DEREIX; E. ROBELIN; F. CHERIEZ; I. J. BIGIO, AND GEO. H. + MACFADDEN. + + + + +"By Order of the American Minister" + + +Correspondence regarding the refusal of the Financial Adviser of Haiti, +an American, but an official of the Haitian Department of Finance, to +pay the salaries for the month of July, 1920, of the President and +certain other officials of the Haitian Republic, revealing that the +action was taken by order of the American Minister to Haiti, without +explanation and without authority in the Haitian Constitution or in the +Haiti-American Convention, was printed in the _Moniteur_ for August 14. + + + I. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 2, 1920. + + MR. A. J. MAUMUS, Receiver General of Customs + + In accordance with the suggestion made to the Financial Adviser + on July 24, your office began on the morning of July 30 to pay + the salaries for that month to the officials and public + employees at Port-au-Prince. + + Nevertheless up to this morning, August 2, no checks have been + delivered to His Excellency the President of the Republic, the + secretaries of the various departments, the state councilors, + and the palace interpreter. + + In calling your attention to this fact I ask that you will + please inform me of the reasons for it. + + FLEURY FEQUIERE, Secretary of Finance. + + + II. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 2, 1920. + + TO THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND COMMERCE + + I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of + August 2 in which you ask this office to inform you regarding + the reasons for the non-delivery, up to the present time, of + the checks for His Excellency the President of the Republic, + for the departmental secretaries, the state councilors, and + the palace interpreter, for the month of July. + + In reply this office hastens to inform you that up to the + present time it has not been put in possession of the mandates + and orders regarding these payments. + + A. J. MAUMUS, Receiver General. + + + III. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 2, 1920. + + TO THE FINANCIAL ADVISER + + The Department of Finance, informed that checks for His + Excellency the President of the Republic, the departmental + secretaries, the state councilors, and the palace interpreter + had not been delivered up to this morning, August 2, reported + the fact to the Receiver General of Customs asking to be + informed regarding the reasons. The Receiver General replied + immediately that the delay was due to his failure to receive + the necessary mandates and orders. But these papers were sent + to you by the Department of Finance on July 21, and were + returned by the payment service of the Department of the + Interior on July 26, a week ago. + + I inclose copies of the note from the Department of Finance to + the Receiver General, and of Mr. Maumus's reply. + + I should like to believe that bringing this matter to your + attention would be sufficient to remedy it. + + FLEURY FEQUIERE, Secretary of Finance. + + + IV. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 5, 1920. + + TO THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND COMMERCE + + I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of + August 2, regarding the delay in payment of the salaries of the + President of the Republic, secretaries, and state councilors. + + In reply I have the honor to inform you that the payment of + these salaries has been suspended by order of the American + Minister until further orders are received from him. + + J. MCILHENNY, Financial Adviser. + + + V. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 10, 1920. + + TO THE FINANCIAL ADVISER + + I acknowledge receipt of your note of August 5 in reply to mine + of August 2 asking information regarding the reasons for your + non-payment of the salaries for last July due to His Excellency + the President of the Republic, the secretaries, and state + councilors, and the palace interpreter. + + I note the second paragraph of your letter, in which you say, + "In reply, etc." + + I do not know by what authority the American Minister can have + given you such instructions or by what authority you + acquiesced. The non-payment of the salaries due the members of + the Government constitutes a confiscation vexatious for them + and for the entire country. It is not the function of this + department to judge the motives which led the American Minister + to take so exceptionally serious a step; but it is the opinion + of the Government that the Financial Adviser, a Haitian + official, was not authorized to acquiesce. + + FLEURY FEQUIERE, Secretary of Finance. + + + VI. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 5, 1920. + + MR. A. BAILLY-BLANCHARD, American Minister + + I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the offices of + the Financial Adviser and of the Receiver General have not yet + delivered the checks for the July salaries of His Excellency + the President of the Republic, of the secretaries, state + councilors, and palace interpreter, although all other + officials were paid on July 30. + + The Secretary of Finance wrote to the Receiver General asking + information on the subject, and was informed that he had not + received the necessary mandates and orders. The fact of the + non-delivery of the checks and the reply of the Receiver + General were then brought to the attention of the Financial + Adviser, who has not yet replied. + + In informing your Legation of this situation, I call the + attention of Your Excellency to this new attitude of the + Financial Adviser, a Haitian official, to the President of the + Republic and the other members of the Government, an attitude + which is an insult to the entire nation. + + J. BARAU, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. + + + VII. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 6, 1920. + + MR. A. BAILLY-BLANCHARD, American Minister + + I have the honor to inclose a copy of a note from the Financial + Adviser to the Secretary of Finance, replying to a request for + information regarding the non-payment of checks.... + + In his reply the Financial Adviser informs the Department of + Finance that "the payment of these salaries has been suspended + by order of the American Minister until further orders are + received from him." + + My Government protests against this act of violence which is an + attack upon the dignity of the people and Government of Haiti. + + J. BARAU, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. + + + VIII. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 6, 1920. + + MR. J. BARAU, Secretary of Foreign Affairs + + I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your + Excellency's note under date of August 5. + + In reply I have to state that the action of the Financial + Adviser therein referred to was taken by direction of this + Legation. + + A. BAILLY-BLANCHARD, American Minister. + + + IX. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 7, 1920. + + MR. A. BAILLY-BLANCHARD, American Minister + + In reply to my letter of August 5 in which I had the honor to + inform Your Excellency of the non-payment of checks, ... Your + Excellency informs me that it is by direction of the Legation + of the United States that the Financial Adviser acted. + + My Government takes note of your declaration. + + J. BARAU, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. + + + + +The Concession of the National City Bank + + +Simultaneously with the non-payment of the July salaries of the +President and other officials of the Haitian Republic, the Haitian +Minister of Finance received from the Financial Adviser, an American, +nominally a Haitian official, but acting under instructions from the +American Government, the following letter urging immediate ratification +of a modified form of agreement between the United States Department of +State and the National City Bank of New York. It was widely assumed in +Haiti that this letter supplied the key to the unexplained non-payment +of salaries, ordered by Mr. A. Bailly-Blanchard, the American Minister. +The letter was printed in the _Moniteur_ for August 14. + + PORT-AU-PRINCE, August 2, 1920 + + TO THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE + + I have the honor to inform you that I have been instructed by my + Government that in view of the continual delay in obtaining the + consent of the Haitian Government to the transfer to the new bank of + the modified concession as agreed upon between the Government of the + United States and the National City Bank, the Government of the + United States has agreed to let the operations of the National Bank + of the Republic of Haiti continue indefinitely on the French + contract at present existing, without amendment. + + I desire urgently to draw your attention to the fact that it would + be most desirable in the interest of the Haitian people that the + Government of Haiti should give its immediate consent to the + proposed modifications of the contract and to accept the transfer of + the bank rather than see the present contract continue with its + present clauses. + + JOHN MCILHENNY, Financial Adviser + + + + +[Transcriber's Notes: + +Spelling, punctuation and capitalization has been retained as in the +original publication except as follows: + +Page 27: Changed "glaces" to "glaces" + +Page 40: Added closing quotation mark to paragraph opening with the +words: "And Article 2 of the American-Haitian Convention" + +Page 44: Added period to end of sentence "It is for this reason alone +that the agreement is not signed up to this time"] + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Self-Determining Haiti, by James Weldon Johnson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELF-DETERMINING HAITI *** + +***** This file should be named 35025.txt or 35025.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/2/35025/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Gary Rees and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |