The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-28
Observation-Disclosures
IT rs ONLY PRELIMINARY TO 4
run PLEDGED TREATY.
The state Department Assures The Senate
Foreign Relations Committee That
Both when Completed. VIII BE Suh-
United to the Senate for lis Action.

WAsmINGTON, Jan. Ply the simplest
means within its power the Administration
to-day pulled out the last peg upon which
some Senators were hanging their criticism
Of the course Of the President and Secretary
Hay in the Sauto Domingo affair In a
communication to the Committee Of Foreign
Relations Assistant Secretary II state
LOOMS, who. of course, was acting under
the direction of Mr.. Roosevelt and MIR Hay.
informed the committee that the so-called
arrangement for the assumption by this
Government OF control over all Dominican
customs revenues, and the establishment
of a virtual proteotorate over the country,
was merely sort Of non-bindlng protocol
preliminary TO a full ledged treaty between
the Dominican Republic and the United
States. and that the treaty would. as re-
CURED by the Constitution, be submitted
to tho Senate Cor its consideration aud
approval
Mr. Loomis's letter was read to the com
mittee at its regular meeting to-day SEN
ator Bacon Of Georgia. one Of the Demo-
cratic members who had introduced a
resolution calling on the President for de-
tails of the Dominican agreement, was
present at the meeting. He had taken the
ground that any arrangement such as that
described in the statement furnished TO the
press by the State Department on Sunday
night would be a usurpation Of authority
by the President which the Senate, CO.
ordinate branch of the treaty-making
power. could not afford to tolerate.
But Mr. Loomis's letter showed an in
tention on the part of the Administration
10 seek the advice aud consent Of the Senate
in the Dominican affair and Senator Bacon
gracefully acknowledged that he was
satisfied not to press his resolution. He
made good his word by moving that the
resolution be postponed without action and
without prejudice. OF course, the motion
was adopted
In his letter Mr. LOOMS said that pro-
tocol had been signed by the United States
ana Santo Domingo providing for American
control of the fiscal affairs of the West
India n Republic, including the administra-
ton of it's customs department, but he eK-
planned that the protocol was merely basis
for a treaty to be negotiated subsequently,,
providing for the carrying out Of the terms
of the agreement and that not only the
treaty but the protocol IA well, would be
transmitted to the Senate for it, advice and
consent as soon as the documents were
ready.
. There was little discussion In the com
mittee after the LOOMS letter was read,
but it was made clear IN the brief COM
ment on the subject that the members Of
the committee, Republicans as well as
Democrats would have raised objection TO
any pledge by the Administration to guar
antee the integrity OF Santo Domingo with
out seeking the Senate's approval. In the
protocol. provision for such u guarantee
Is made
hut ~ Ngl lN, similar had
been assumed by the Mckinley Admins
tratiun. as under the terms Of the peace
protocol with Spain, Cuba, Porto Rico
and the city OF Manila had been held 10y
United States troops pending the Senate's
approval OF the Administration course,
but he readily admitted, in response 10 a
suggestion of another member that this
was an exercise Of war power and perfectly
justitiable, whereas there was no such
authority vested in the present Admins
tration.
In the opinion of some members Of the
Foreign Relations Committee, the transfer
Of Dominican custom houses 20 the con-
troll of tue United States. the adrninistra-
ton of the customs revenues by American
agents and the preservation OF the status
quo pending action by the Senate ON the
formal treaty to he negotiated, would not
be beyond the rightful authority OF this
Government But the committee IS appar-
emily unanimous in the conviction that no
8an be given by President Roosevelt until
q treaty to that effect shall have received
the Senate's approval.
The situation isgoomplioated and much
interest is expressed as 10 which course the
President will follow IL a revolutionary out
break occurs and the insurgents seize or
attempt To capture the custo m houses
The time set in the protocol for tie transfer
Of the custom houses 20 the niied States
is said to I've Feb. l Much doubt j. ex-
pressed however, "a 10 whether the AG
minstration will exercise the authority
thus granted by the protocol before the
Senate has given its consent
From what was said after the meeting
OF the Foreign Relations Committee il WAS
evident that action on the treaty With
Santo Domingo is not expected before the
Senate adjourns sine die
Although Government officers deny that
there is any immediate intention OF landing
marines in Santo Domingo, they admitted
to-day that a marine battalion numbering
200 men would leave Colon. lsthmus Of
Panama. tomorrow. on the auxiliary
cruiser Dixie. for Guantanamo, Cuba,
whore it will be- closer to Dominican terri
tory They denied also that these marines
were being Withdrawn from the Isthlhu-
on account Of tie appearance Of yellow
fever there IN explanation Of the move
ment. thev said that II had always been
intended TO have a large force at the Guam
tanano naval station