Naval College Review Volume 29 Article 17 Number 4 Autumn

1976 in the Wilson Era—The .SU . Navy in Haiti, 1915-1916 R. L. Schreadley U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Davis Healy

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Recommended Citation Schreadley, R. L. and Healy, Davis (1976) "Gunboat Diplomacy in the Wilson Era—The .SU . Navy in Haiti, 1915-1916," Naval War College Review: Vol. 29 : No. 4 , Article 17. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol29/iss4/17

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change have any influence on the use of the suspicions, the delays, the grudging power and force in the conduct of respect shared by Stalin and Harriman world affairs? for each other. There are excellent What political leaders and their chapters on the Teheran, Yalta, and legislative supporters implicitly assume Potsdam Conferences. There is a direct or take for granted on these matters will challenge throughout to the revisionist largely determine the ultimate decision theories on the . Harriman's to usemilitary force. perceptions are, of course, those of America's wartime leadership, and HENRY E. ECCLES through his eyes one sees the emerging Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy {Ret.) and tragic confrontation of East and West. Harriman, W. Averell and Elie Abel. The book must stand as a basic Special to Churchill and Stalin reference on the period. Not only do we 1941-1946. New York: Random have Harriman's memoranda and notes, House. 1975. 595pp, but the book is supported by quite With World War II now 31 years old adequate research and documentation. and already into its third writing-the This last of the great World War II first flash histories, the serious studies memoirs should be of use and interest including the beginnings of revisionism, to all students of strategy and diplo­ and the current spate of works revealing macy. dramatically the cryptological successes of the British in being able to read ROBERT F, DELANEY Hitlerian and Nazi General Staff traffic, Naval War College there now appears a significant memoir from the thinning ranks of senior par• Healy, Davis. Gunboat Diplomacy in the ticipants. Averell Harriman, a dis­ Wilson Era-The U.S. Navy in Haiti, tinguished American by any measure, 1915-1916. Madison, The University sets forth his experiences and views of Wisconsin Press, 1976. 268pp. concerning the crucial wartime years On 28 July 1915, American marines during which he served as President and bluejackets from the armored Roosevelt's personal emissary first to Washington were landed in Port· Winston Churchill and later as U.S. au-Prince, Haiti, for the purpose of in Moscow where he spent "preventing further rioting and for the as much time with Joseph Stalin as any protection of foreigners' lives and American living or dead. property and to preserve order." Thus It is a story of noblesse oblige, of began a military occupation of nearly service, of dedication to the common­ 20 years duration. weal. It is also the story of a patriot It is impossible to justify or to who quietly cared and who was not understand this action by the adminis­ afraid of dissentor controversy. There is tration of without one Immediately apparent lesson in adequate knowledge of those years of 1 Harriman s memoir. He was no bureau� Haitian history immediately preceding crat. He walked the world stage, the intervention, years known by the The outline of the memoirs covers Haitians themselves as the "Epoque des familiar terrain-the era of the late Gouvernements Ephemeres"-the Era of l 930's and the war. What is significant the Ephemeral Governments. On 17 in this well-written account by Colum• December 1908, Antoine Simon was bia Journalism School Dean Elie Abel is elected to the Presidency forthe consti• the Harriman insight. He covers with tutional term of 7 years. In the 7 years HMission following that election, no fewer than precisionPublished by his U.S. Naval Warto College Moscow" Digital with Commons, 1976 1 Naval War College Review, Vol. 29 [1976], No. 4, Art. 17 116 NAVAL WAR COLLEGI� REVIEW

seven presidents were elected and de­ by naval personnel. Little guidance posed in Haiti. The last, Vilbrun Guil­ came from Washington, despite Admiral laume Sam, was actually dragged from Caperton's pleas for a statement of U.S. asylum in the French Legationand torn policy and intentions. Eventually, how­ to pieces by an enraged mob in the ever I consent was granted to the elec# street outside. tion of a new president in Haiti, who Haiti, the second oldest "republic'' in was all but nominated by Admiral the Western Hemisphere, was in a state Caperton and his chief of staff, Capt. of almost total anarchy when Rear Edward L. Beach. Adm. William B. Caperton, Commander Seeking to legitimize the American Cruiser Squadron, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, presence, the U.S. State Department at ordered American forces ashore, Ad· last forwarded a treaty proposal to miral Caperton apparently acted under Port-au-Prince that had the practical his own authority in response to urgent effect of granting the United States demands by the in complete financial and military control Port-au-Prince. Within a matter of of the Black Republic. The treaty was hours, however, his orders were con� fiercely resisted by the Haitians, and firmed by superiors in the Navy Depart• when they were forced to accept its ment. terms, all but the trappings of sover­ Intervention in Haiti had long been eignty were surrendered. under consideration in Washington. On It is probable that the years of inter­ 13 January 1915, President Wilson di,.. vention gave Haiti the only honest and cussed the situation in a memorandum reasonably efficient government it has to Secretary of State William Jennings ever known. A studyof history, however, Bryan: seems to support the thesis that political ... The more I think about that freedom1 progress, and evolution are situation the more I am convinced seldom, if ever, successfully imposed that it is our duty to take immedi­ from without. After an extensive period ate action there such as we took of ''Haitianization," American forces in Santo Domingo. I mean to send were withdrawn in 1934. Haiti quickly a commissioner there who will returned to the old ways and ultimately seek and obtain an interview with drifted into the nightmare of Papa Doc the leaders of the various con­ and the ton ton macoute. tending factions of the Republic David Healy's short account of the and say to them as firmly and first year of the American intervention definitely as is consistent with in Haiti is well researched, though it courtesy and kindness that the suffers somewhat from a rather dry United States cann ot consent to style. Those who read his book may stand by and permit revolutionary well wish to sample further the rich conditions constantly to exist mine of primary source material that there .... Is not this your judg­ exists concerning a fascinating period in

ment? the history of an intriguing land. The Wilson administration's diplo­ matic initiative was an utter failure, and R.L, SCHRl!ADLEY Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret,} in the end order in Haiti was t·estored only by American arms. The weeks and months following the Kearns, Doris. Lyndon Johnson and the intervention were marked by a rapid American Dream. New Yorke Harper expansion of American control through­ & Row, 1976. 432pp. out the country and the establishment Initially it would be useful to of an administration staffed primarily describe the provenance of this book. In https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol29/iss4/17 2