The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-02-23
MONROE DOCTRINE
Basis of Action By President
on Dominican Mudd|e.
PROTOCOL IN THE SENATE
Roosevelt Transmits Message Explain
ing In Detail Why Uncle Sam Is
Acting as Debt Collector for
Foreign Powers.

The message from the president
transmitting to the senate a protocol
of an agreement between the United
States and the Dominican government
providing for the collection and dis
bursement by the United States of the
customs revenues Of the Dominican re-
public, was ordered made public on
Thursday. together with the protocol
The message is of nearly $500
words. and was read in full 70 the
senate. 1t is largely discussion OF
the rights and duties Of the United
States under the Monroe doctrine and
the president says the protocol affords
a practical test Of the efficiency Of
the United States government in main
taihing the doctrine. In beginning his
message, the president says that con
ditions in San Domingo have been
growing steadily worse for many years
and debts have been contracted be-
yond the power of the republic to
pay.
Certain foreign countries, he says,
have felt themselves aggreved be-
cause Of the non-payment Of debts due
to their citizens and have felt that
the only way they could ever get any
guarantee Of payment would be by
acquisition OF territory or by taking
charge of customs affairs Of the re-
public.
It Is pointed out by the president
that the Monroe doctrine would pro-
hiHt any foreign government from
stepping in, and he says that those
who profit by this doctrine must ac-
cept certain responsibilities along
with the rights it confers. He says
further:
"The justification for the United
States taking this burden and incur.
ring this responsibility Is to be found
In the fact that it is incompatible with
international equity for the United
States to refuse to allow other DOW
ers to take the only means at their
disposal of satisfying the claims Of
their creditors, and yet to refuse IT.
self to take any such steps,
An especial point is made by the
president that this government does
not propose to take any part OF San
Domingo or TO exercise any other
control over the island save what is
necessary 20 its financial rehabilitation
In connection with the collection Of
: revenue, part of which will be turned
over to the government to meet the
necessary expenses Of running 1t, and
part Of which will be distributed pro
rata among the creditors Of the re-
public upon a basis Of absolute equity.
Discussing the course aggrieved na.
tions may take against American re-
.publics without interference with the
Monroe doctrine, the president says
any action may be taken which ."does
not take the shape OF its influence
with their form Of government or of
the despoilment OF their territory un-
der any Disguise; but short Of this
when the question is one Of a money
claim the only way which remains
finally to collect it Is blockade or
hombardment, or the seizure OF the
custom house, and this means, as has
been said above, is in effect posses
sion even though temporary posses
sion of territory. ~:
The United States then becomes a
party in interest, as under the Mon.
roe doct:ine it cannot see any Europe
in power seize and permanently oc'
cupy the territory Of one Of these re-
pubhcs; and yet such seizure OF the
territory disguised or undisgnised may
eventually offer the only way in which
the power In question can collect any
debts, unless there is interference on
the mart of the United States.