The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-04-19
DOMINICAN SETTLEMENT
United States Government to Take
Charge, Of Her Revenues:
NO CHANCE FOR OPPOSITION

@NhC INK IL
Hold Up by the Senate - Long
Consultation With Cabinet, Sem
ators Lodge and spooner-In Long
Letter Mr. Roosevelt Gives Plans.
Washington, D. C.-The solution Of
the Santo Domingo difficulty was ar
rived at by the President. Secretary
Taft and Acknowledgement Moody. An
arrangement has been made whereby,
despite the Senate's failure to ratify
the treaty the United States will go
right ahead taking charge of the little
republics revenues and settling its
claims.
Before the Cabinet meeting the Pres
ident conferred on this matter with Mr.
Taft. Mr.. Moody and Senators Lodge
and Spooner. Then it was taken up at
the Cabinet meeting and discussed
there. After the Cabinet meeting adj
journed Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Moody re-
manned, and instructions for carrying
out the scheme were drawn up.
In the afternoon Mr.. Taft took these
instructions to Acting Secretary Of
State Adee in the form of a letter from
the President. 1t reads:
white House, Washington.
ITO the Acting Secretary Of State:
Il have carefully considered the fol-
lowing. c%ablegram from Minister Daw-
son:
Under pressure foreign creditors
and domestic peril, Dominican Govern
ment offers to nominate a citizen of the
United States receiver Of southern
ports pending ratification protocol; four
northern ports to be administered un-
der the award. Forty-five per cent. Of
total shall go to Dominican Govern
ment. fifty-fve to be deposited in New
York for distribution after ratification.
Creditors to agree to take no further
steps in the meantime, and receiver to
have full authority to suspend import
ers' preferential contracts.
italian, Spanish German and Amer
lean creditors, except the Sant0 Do
mingo Improvement Company. accept
Internationally; Belgian and French
representatives will recommend ac-
ceptance. Some modus vivendi abso-
lutely necessary. l am ready, if de-
sired, to start for Washington, d. c.,
to explain details and notifications to
plan obtainable. Whole matter q be
held open during my absence.
"'DAWSON.'
81 direct that the Minister express
oo-oo~a ~ 4ha nrnnnc01 of Tho
Government Of Santo Domingo for the
collection and conservation Of its rev.
enues, pending the action of the United
States Senate upon the treaty, to the
end that in the meantime no change
shall take place in the situation which
would render useless it's consummation
or bring complications into its enforce
ment.
THE Secretary of War of the United
States will present for nomination by
the President of the Dominican Repub-
lie men to act in the positions referred
to. in both the northern and southern
ports. The utmost care will, Of course,
be taken to choose men of capacity and
absolute integrity. who, If possible.
shall have some knowledge Of Spanish.
All the moneys collected from both
the northern and southern ports, not
turned over to the Dominican Govern
ment, will be deposited in some New
York bank to be designated by the Sec
rotary Of War, and will there be kept
until the Senate has acted. If the ac-
ton is adverse the money will then be
turned over to the Dominican Govern
ment. If it Is favorable it will be dis
tributed among the creditors in proper
ton to their just claims under the
treaty.
meanwhile Mr.. Hollender will thor
oughly investigate these claims, inciud-
ing the claim of the American Improve
ment Company, and. will report in de-
tail all the information he is able to
gather as to the amount actually re-
ceived by Santo Domingo. the amount
of indebtedness nominally incurred.
the circumstances so far as they are
known under which the various debts
were incurred, and so forth.
This action is rendered necessary
by the peculiar circumstances of the
case. The treaty now before the Sem
ate was concluded with Santo Domingo
at Santo Doming0's earnest request re-
peatedly pressed upon us. and was sub
mitted to the Senate because in my
judgment it was Jul duty to our less
fortunate neighbor TO respond to her
call for aid. inasmuch as we were the
only power that could give this aid, and
inasmuch as her need for it was very
great.
The treaty is now before the SEN
ate. and has Eeen favorably reported
by the Committee on Foreign Relations.
It is pending, and final action will I'm.
doubtedly be taken when Congress con-
vcncs next fall. Meanwhile Santo Do
rlingo has requested that the action
above outlined be taken; that is, she
desires in this wa; to maintain the sta
tus quo, so that il the treaty is ratified
it can be executed.
with this purpose in view. I direct
that the proposed arrangement tie ap-
proved. 1t will terminate as soon as
the Senate has acted n way or the
other.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"