The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-07
NATURE OF FRENCH CLAIMS.
Three Different Contentious Involved
I'm the Settlement.


Correspondence Of the Associated Press
SAN DOMINGO CITY, Dec. "a. 1s99.-The
new government of President Juan Isidro
Jimenez has been inaugurated hardly a
month and it already has to face foreign
difficulty. The French consul and diploma
tic representative has presented an ulta-
matum for the French claims, and this has
so incensed the population here that 1t Is
intended to soon hold public indigna-
ton meeting in the square, 1t is impossi-
BILE at present to foresee the outcome
of this difficulty, but it is considered GER
tain that the republic will have to pay
for the mistakes. or worse. committed by
the late President Heureaux.
In regard to the Boismarie claim, which
the French consul associates Intentionally,
but, 1t is claimed, wrongly with the Cac-
cavilli affair." it cannot be denied that
Captain Boismarie was prosecuted in every
possible manner by General Heureaux, who
was known to be secretly interested in
some industrial enterprises, such as soap
factories, etc. Captain Boismarie came d.
rectly In competition with the President
when he himself started a soap factory.
But, under the circumstances, his business
failed to succeed, and eventually he failed.
Through the secret instigation Of President
Heureuax, 1t is asserted, he was charged
with the crime of fraudulent bankruptcy
and put in JAIL where he remained for two
years in spite of the representations Of
the French government, which even sent a
squadron under Admiral De Libeau to San
Domingo, at the beginning of Boismarie's
Imprisonment. Finally his release was OBJ
tanned, together with the promise of
President Heureaux to pay an indemnity
to the captain.
The Caccavelli case is one of different
nature. The man in question, who was a
merchant and the agent for some shipping
firm, one day became involved in quar-
rel with negro laborer, who shot and
killed him on the spot. This was purely a
private affair, involving no international
question, except the contention that the
murder did not receive the full punishment
which his crime merited. anyhow President
Heureaux, who was himself full-blooded
Haytien negro, consented to pay an in
demnity to the mans family.
A third case was also made out against
the Dominican government. 1t appears
that some years ago Mr.. Colin de Para
dis, since deceased, was acting as repre-
sentative Of the Republic Of San Domingo
He made several purchases for his govern
ment, which declined to pay for them on
the ground that it did not approve the
transactions and did not need the articles
purchased. Nevertheless, General Heu-
reaux later on consented to indOrse the
claims of the Paradis estate.
These are the definite though not abso-
lutely clear cases that the French govern
ment claims to have against San Domingo.
France complains that the promised pay
ments were not made during the latter
months of the regime Of President Heu-
reaux and that they should have been re-
sumed as soon as President Jiminez had
established a stable government The con-
sui argued that the nonpayments are due
to the alleged ill-will on the part of the
new administration. The correctness of
this allegation is challenged, however, and
it is intimated that at the bottom of all
the trouble is the Banco Nacional affair,
this being a French concern. General Heu-
reaux had some trouble with the institu-
ton and he sent soldiers to occupy the
offices of the bank and to levy on it's re-
sources. He had, however, to apologize
for that illegal proceeding. Now the bank
has issued notes for $S00, 900, redeemable in
Mexican silver pesos and it claims that
the government is responsible for the pay
ment. The latter is willing to assume the
responsibility, but on the condition that
the bank shall deliver an amount of it's
bonds held in Europe equal to the sum Of
100000 Mexican silver dollars. There is.
therefore, between the Dominican govern
ment and the bank a misunderstanding of
a financial character, which has exercised
a regrettable influence over the settle
ment Of the Boismarie Caccavailli and
Paradis claims.