New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DISCUSS DOMINICAN PLAN.
NO IMNEDIATE ACTION.
Chance for Many Complications in
DoJcsoR'S Programme.
- rAE - nInEAu.

Washington March 27.-Caited States Mins
lister DawSon has sent 80 the State Department
the outline of a proposition submitted to him
by foreign ministers at Santo Domingo. rep
resentins countries whose citizens hold claims
against the republic of Santo Domingo The
plan contempates the appointment by the
United States of an agent. citizen OF the
United States. who shall take charge OF the
customs receipts of the FIVE southern ports OF
Santo Domingo. This agent is to pay to tina
Dominican government ~ per cent of the gross
receipts and segregate the remaining ~ per
cent. less the cost Of collection. the final distrt
button of the funds so segregated to follow the
completion Of the agreement proposed in the
Dominican protocol or by some other arrange
ment. if the United States Senate fails to ap-
prove the protocol
The inclusion of but FIVE ports in the proposed
arrangement is due TO the unwillingness OF the
Santo Domingo Improvement Company TO as
sent 70 q proposition which would deprive them
of the receipts of the ports of Puerto Plata and
Monte Cristi, which are now being devoted
the payment of their claim under the arbitraI
award of July II. 1904. The Santo Domingo I'M
provement Company refuses however. to give
its assent to the present plan, presumably be-
cause the award referred to provides that in
event of the receipts of The two ports named
proving less than the $37. 800 a month stipulated
in the award the fiscal agent appointed by the
United States under the July award shall have
power to sequestrate the receipts OF Samana.
and if necessary OF Sanchez. Representatives OF
all the other interests have assented TO the
plan outlined by Minister Dawson.
| Early this forenoon Acting Secretary Adee
laid the dispatch from Minister Dawson before
the President. who Immediately summoned Sec
rotary Taft. Attorney General Moody. Senator
Spooner and Senator Lodge to the White House.
and long conference ensued. While the Presi-
| dent inclined to regard the plan submitted
by Minister Dawson almost essential in view
of the Senate's failure to ratify the Dominican
protocol his advisers cautioned him against I'M
mediate favorable action. 1t was pointed out 20
him that grave complications might ensue as
result of the appointment of agent by the
United States: that in view of the unsettled
conditions in Santo Domingo an attack such
| agent might follow at any time. necessitating
the landing of marines and preciptating con-
dltion closely approximating war. and that the
President would be severely criticised such
condition to arise as the result of his action
| supported by the Congress the Senste.
In the course of the conference the suggestion
| was made by Secretary Taft that President
Morales might himself appoint citinen of the
| United States to act in the capacity proposed.
| and this was debated at some length, but the
perils of an American citizen acting in such ca
| pacity also emphasized, and no final de-
| cision reached. The point was also made
| that before this government could properly
sent TO such a plan If should be made clear that
| the nations whose citizens were creditors o,
| Santo Domingo were themselves committed TO
| the support Of the proposed agent. and were not
merely permitting their diplomatic representa-
| tives temporarily to act as the agents OF cred
| itors
Numerous complications were outlined. but M
satisfactory solution OF the problem was pre-
| sented and no reply has been sent TO Minister
further information regarding certain phases
of the proposed plan. Meanwhile. it was pointed
| out to the President that every days delay
| diminished by that much the interim between
| the present and the convening of Congress next
autumn when the Dominican protocol. az
amended. would doubtless be ratified.
| Discussing the prospects for ratification OF tbs
| agreea alent with Santo Domingo. the President
was assured that the only argument presented
| against the protocol in it's amended form which
commanded the respect of the Senate was that
| it provided for the institution of a policy which
| it would prove difficult to abandon and which
! might ultimately lead to permanent occupation
! or annexation. Of course, this argument would
| apply with equal force TO foreign nations. who.
| in the absence of action by the United States
might be compelled 10 take similar action
/ their initiative and they being. perhaps
less opposed to permanent occupation OF the
Dominican Republic than is the United States
would doubtless find it extremely difficult TO
| let go. once they had taken hold OF Dominican
| fiscal affairs. This argument will be pressed
! home on the Democrats next fall and the Re
| publican leaders are confident it will prove sufi
| ciently potent to induce number of Democrats
| to vote for the treaty and so effect its ratifca-
| tion.
| MINISTER BOWEN MAY BE TRANSFERRED
| Incidentally. the Venezuelan situation came
| up for discussion at to-day's conference, and
| the consensus OF opinion was that the United
/ States could not properly apply force to collect
| damages for American concessionaires against
| whom suits were pending in the Venezuelan
/ courts or whose claims were being adjudicated
| by the Venezuelan judiciary 1t was empha-
| sized that the principles of international law
| require the recognition OF Venezuela as an equal
| however much such assumption might be wide
/ of the fact and that action which. IL taken
| bv Venezuela against the United States while
claims of Venezuelan concesSionalreS were pend
| ing i'm the courts of this country, could not be
/ tolerated would be equally improper II taken oy
/ the United states against Venezuela,
/ There is a growing conviction that Minister
Bowen will be relieved of his duties at Caracas
him Ii is appreciated at the State Department
| that his present position has been rendered TAR
| from agreea ble BY the recent Developments IN
! Venezuela, and that his usefulness there has
necessarily been seriously curtaiied. IL is fur
/ ther held that this in no way reflects on Minis
/ ter Bowen himself. and that he should not he
| cumpeled to remain at q post where his sur
| rounGingS are unpleasant and where his Capac-
| Ity for good is cUrtailed. For that reason the
/ state Department is casting about for place
/ which would prove both suited 20 hts talents
| and more agreeable to him.
y . 4 n ~