U.N. May Leave Haiti To O.A.S.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 13

U.N. May Leave Haiti To O.A.S.

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, May 9.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to move today to leave the seething dispute between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the hands of the Organisation of American States.

The issue came before the 11-nation council last night at the initiative of Haiti, but informed sources said there was a feeling among a majority of the members that the regional organisation was best able to deal with it at this time. The President of the 0.A.5., Mr Gonzalo Facio, of Costa Rica, is planning talks in New York with the Haitian Foreign Minister (Mr Rene Chalmers), who opened the case for his Government in the council.

Mr Facio also was expected to confer with the Dominican representative (Mr Guaroa Velazques), who assured the council that Dominican 1 troops near the Haitian border were there for defensive purposes and not to take any unprovoked action.

The Soviet Union’s delegate i Dr. Nikolai Fedorenko) is listed to speak today. An informed source said referral of the dispute back to the O.A.S. would be eased by h'is assent. It was not certain, but some delegates believed he would follow the majority. Mr Velazquez said in the debate yesterday that the fortnight-old crisis had been caused by the Haitian Government, “undisciplined soldiery," and the “excesses” of the Haitian President. Dr Francois Duvalier. Mr Chalmers countered that the.

Dominican Republic was attempting to destroy “the only black republic in North America ”

Haiti is virtually ail negro, the Dominican Republic all white. The two nations share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The O.A.S. decided yesterterday to send a special mission back to Haiti with broader instructions to avert the threatened clash. President Kennedy at his press conference said the action was “the proper one” and the United States supported it.

By a vote of 18-0 the O.A.S empowered the mission, headed by Mr Facio. to perform “whatever service is necessary” to settle the dispute. Haiti and the Dominican Republic did not take part in the discussion. President Kennedy commented that before anything else was done “I think we ought to wait and see what they are able to do in the next two or three or four days’’ Yesterday, two United States planes evacuated 195 Americans from Haiti The refugees, most of them wives and children, reported seeing shootings, mobs and arson.

One 14-year-old boy said he had seen two bodies on the street last week while on the way home from school. He said he bad come upon the scene while soldiers. their guns still smoking. stood over the bodies

go in and block off the streets,” another reported. “Once, a child got inside the blockade and they shot him. '

The housewives all said they had been confined to their homes for most of the last two weeks because of the political trouble. United States officials said the airlift by commercial air lines would continue with two flights—a special flight and the regular flight—operating daily “as long as is necessary.” The State Department has ordered the evacuation of all dependents of United States Government employees. ft also urged privat'e American citizens to depart. The department estimated there were 16,680 Americans in Haiti, including 1300 nonGovernment civilians. In a show of strength yesterday, the United States moved part of its Caribbean naval forces within sight of Port-au-Prince but outside the six-mile territorial limit Haiti claims. The squadron of ships, with 2000 Marines aboard, was led by the converted aircraft carrier. “Boxer.”

Submarine Hit

(N Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) JERVIS BAY, May 9 A British submarine, H.M.S Tabard, collided with an Australian Navy frigate. H.MA.S Queenborough, during exercises off Jervis Bay yesterday Only superficial damage was reported.

One woman said she had been arrested and held, more than two hours. “The mobs