The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-09
wARsBrp ORDERED m SAN DOMINGO.
American Interests Threatened by the
Action Of the French G~overnment.

WASHINGTON. Jan. S.-The eunboat Machlas.
now at San Juan. I. r.. has been ordered to
san Domingo City. where the French
Consul has succeeded In stirring up an
interesting International row on account OF
the failure Of the Dominican authorities to
pay an indemnity guaranteed by treaty. Tho
Unitel States Consul at San Domingo asked
the State Department to send a varsity there
to protect American interests. but the
orders to the Machias were issued
before his request was received. Assurances
were received at the State Department which
promised q satisfactory adjustment OF the
French Dominican difficulty. but later in
formation indicates that there may yet be
trouble through the insistenoe OF the French
Consul on moral as we'll rs pecuniary redress.
The interest OF the United States In the in.
cident comes from several circumstances one
OF which is that much American capital is In.
vested In the San DOMINICAN Improvement
Company. unon whose revenues the French
Government has placed an embargo. to. secure
the payment OF the indemnity. The Monroe
doctrine Ia to some extent In yolyed. through
the reports from Paris that instructi9ns to
necessary. have been issued TO the French
Admiral on the West Indian station. 1t IS
believed here that a French .warship has al.
the purely. pecupiary part Of the difficulty
viii be adjusted to the Satisfaction o.
measures by the warship Of that country: but
the Frcnch Consul. at San Domingo city in;
sists that the INCIDENT shall not be declared
closed until ample apology has been made to
him and to his Government for insults to which
he alleges he was subjected by the Dominican
authoritiesin pressing the claim.
The present attitude OF France ia based on
an agreement or treaty made IN 1929 between
the late President, heureaux and the French
Minister at his capital. under which
indemnity, payments to be made monthly to
the French Consul at. San Domingo City. on
account OF tho assasSinotion q F5eneh Ell.
cording to the French statement OF the ease,
the treaty stipulated thai, failure to- make
monthly payments would give france
ment company. which has the contract for col
Letting ths revenues ri san Domingo. The
assassination Of Hcureaux. followed by the
Jiminez revolution. proven ted the collection OF
the monthly~payments. hut after Jtminez was
recognized rs the head Of a new Government
France pressed for her arrears. When the new
Government declined 10 Tay, the Consul oi
tie Improvement COMPANY. and Il is saia that
the attempt to execute this order resulted in
opposition and insults to the Consul and the
Consulate.
The knowledge that anceintend sending
anaval force: to san Domingo city caused the
Gen. Porter. thu Ambassador in Paris,
force In obtaining redress. Before it
was sent information came from the United
States Consul at San Domingo CITY that tho
Jiminpzl government had agreed to continue
paying the in'iemnity. IL was learned also by
the State Department that this was not salts.
factory to the French Consul. who insisted
on an apology.
The orders ~ the Machias made no specific
reference to the French Dominican difficulty.
Her commander was directedto proceed To San
Domingo city on account OF the generally dis
turbed condition OF the country.