CRISIS IN THE CARIBBEAN : Carter and Cedras: Glimpses Into State of Their Minds as Drama Unfolded

“The U.S. invasion will cause much less bloodshed than the civil strife that will result with the return of Aristide. He was never a democrat and has asked for an invasion of his own country. His forces are just waiting to attack the general populace.”

The speaker was Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras, Haiti’s de facto leader, in a telephone call he placed last Wednesday to former President Jimmy Carter in an effort to persuade Carter to travel to Haiti to head off the invasion that President Clinton had threatened. He was referring to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted by a coup led by Cedras a year after his election as Haiti’s president in 1990.

One day after the telephone conversation, Clinton said in a televised address to the United States that an invasion was inevitable unless Cedras gave up power. A day after that, Clinton announced that he was dispatching Carter to Haiti, a mission that resulted in agreement Sunday night.

The telephone conversation between Carter and Cedras offers fascinating glimpses into the state of mind of the two men--and what each wanted the other to believe. Carter took notes on the conversation. Here are excerpts from those notes:

Cedras: “We have civilian government in Haiti under (President Emile) Jonassaint, a respected and experienced public servant. There is no military government. My role is to defend my country. . . . “

Carter: “I do not represent the U.S. government, but it is necessary for me to tell you the truth. An irrevocable decision has been made to invade Haiti unless you and the two other leaders are prepared to leave. It will be helpful, if you also welcome the U.N. forces to come in to preserve order . . . . “

Cedras: “. . . As a Christian and nationalistic Haitian, I will do everything possible to avoid any problem for my country. My long career has not prepared me for this situation. . . . The decision to invade will come from your President. I will do my duty to my country. How will history judge me, if I depart and leave my fellow citizens to face death? The U.S. is determined to put Aristide back in power. He has no vision of democracy. He burned 19 of our soldiers to death in January, 1991. Is this your vision of democracy?

”. . . This invasion will only complete the genocide of our people begun three years ago with the embargo on food and medicines.”

Carter: “I said, to summarize: My proposal is that Gen. Cedras agrees to leave immediately. . . . My understanding is that Gen. Cedras will not agree to leave, and this ensures an invasion. Is this correct?”

Cedras: “What will be your attitude if I announce my departure, and a civil war erupts?”

Carter: “I hope you will use your great influence to call for peace from the other leaders in Haiti and from the public. I will be glad to come to Haiti to get you.”

Cedras: “I cannot appear to be abandoning my country. I am not a deserter. . . . “

Carter’s notes conclude: “. . . We discussed mutual respect and faith in God. I invited him to come to my Sunday school class, either to hear me or to teach it. He said my image in his mind was shaking hands with (former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem) Begin and (former Egyptian President Anwar) Sadat. In closing, I urged him to discuss my proposals and consider them carefully.”