The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-14
BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
Change in Course OF Massacre River
Likely 10 Lead to War Between
Haytl and Santo Domingo

Correspondence OF Associated Press }
KINGSTON, jamaica, April i--The
following statement OF the causes lead
ing up to the recently developed boun-
iary trouble between the republics of
Havti and Santo Domingo and W the
present condition of affairs. is furnished
by persons just returned from the ISL
and.
What is known as the Dominican Re
public, or Santo Domingo, was once
4 province Of the republic Of Hayt. In
1874 the Internal troubles and state OF
anarchy which then prevailed (as n
result ot the revolution which over
threw the government OF President Roy
er after twenty-five years In oflice) ia
cilitated and was the cause OF the Sc
ceSsion OF the eastern portion of the
island, which then proclaimed It's indie
penience. The existence OF the new
republic was recognized by the Hay
,ien government In 1874
The question OF the delimltatlon ~
the frontiers arose naturally from the
fact that the e~rit ~ II the Domn-
lean Republic is not and never has been
defined This important and delicate
question was finally, by mutual con-
sent, submitted TO the arbitration OF
his holiness, Pope Leo XIII, In conse-
Huence OF certain points raised as to
the powers accorded his holiness. the
two governments Uten presided over by
General Simon sam and Ulysses Heu-
reuX) signed a convention by which It
was agreed to appoint 4 mix Haytien-
Dominican commission with fun powers
to define and settle the boundaries be-
tween the two republics such boundar-
,es to be based on the respective po-
sitious in 1874
This commission met AT Anses-a-Pi-
tres In January. 1899. and Immediately
set 20 work. In spite OF explicit terms
OF the sam Heureux convention, which
stipulated that the uti possidetls OF 1874
should be taken as the base for the de-
limitation. the Dominican commission
ers openly declared that they would on
~ abide by the provisions Of this clause
SO long as It would be favorable to
their interests.
In order to explain this stand on the
part OF the Dominican representatives
It might be stated that. Immediately
after the signing OF the convention. the
Dominican government had caused To
be occupied several points along the
disputed frontier. which occupation thr
Haytlens regarded as an encroachmen;
on their territory at points from which
Haytien trips had been withdrawn in
order to facilitate an amicable settle
ment OF the dispute In the end this
mixed commission separated without
having in any way improved the sltu-
alton
The incident that has recently occur
red AT PhiloPert on the northern from
TIER, anu winch SIr tVSFIs Nht
friendly relations Of the sister repub-
lies is considered by the Haytiens to be
Dremeditated provocation on the part
Of the Dominioans. The Haytlen posts
established in that district to put down
struggling and brigandage from over
the border have had TO defend them
selves against repeated attacks, BY
mutual consent the river Massacre,
which divides the Dominican province
Of Dajabon from Haytien territory, has
for a long time been Professionally ac-
cepted by both governments as the nat
ural boundary OF the two states. All
the country on the right bank Of the
river was acknowledged to belong to
Santo Domingo whilst the country on
the left bank was regarded by both
governments as Haytien territory.
And hereby hangs funny and in
teresting tale. The Dominicans, year
or two ago, conceived a brilliant idea.
Knowing that nature sometimes makes
rivers in the tropics change their cour-
ses, it occurred TO some people residing
on the right bank Of the stream that
they might add considerably to Domini-
can territory II they could manage to
effect a deviation in the bed Of the Mas