The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-10
SECRETARY HAY
 EXPLAINS CASE Never Intended to Usurp Sen
 ate's Power REPORTS ARE MISLEADING Administration Proceeded In Usual Way In santo Domingo Matter, Preparing Protocol Before Sub-
 hitting to Senate
REPORTS ARE MISLEADING

Washington. March 9.-The Secretary resentatives today made statement as to the facts regarding the negotiations with San Domingo He said:
 "I should like if possible to set at rest the confused misleading and harmful reports concerning tho negotiation. not only of the San Domingo protocol now under consideration by the Senate of the United States. but also the instrument signed at San Domingo on January 21, which is sometimes referred to as the 1 Dillingham-Sanehez agreement.
 Tt has been asserted and consistently repeated that the department of state had knowledge of the existence of the agreement on January 21, prior to the announcement in the public press. that such an instrument Lad been signed at santo Domingo city.
 Ut has further been asserted that there was an intention and purpose on the part of the President and the depart ment of state which looked to the nasty carrying into effect of some important arrangement with the Dominican gov-
 
 Senate for it's advice, and consent any instrumenet in the nature of treaty or protocol. Neither the President nor any of the officials of the state depart ment ever had any such intention or purpose. Nothing was known of the agreement on January 2l until 1t was learned through the medium of the press that such an instrument had been signed in San Domingo city. It was then de- cided that as many reports and rumors concerning the agreement were reaching the papers (some of which indicated that negotiation for the annexation Of the island was proposed) 1t would be wise to make a statement concerning the pur- pose of the administration.
 When the statement was made on January q only a brief abstract of the arrangement which Lad been signed at San Domingo city hal been communi- eated to the department.
 Broad Facts Indicated.
 "The broad facts were indicated in the interview together with the probable at | titude of the administration toward the l proposition. It was never for a moment contemplated that there would not be submitted to the United States Senate at the proper time for its consideration a protocol or treaty embodying the essen | tial features of the agreement signed on the Fist of January at San Domingo city, which agreement was signed at the time for the purpose of meeting the require ments of certain political conditions at Santo Domingo to avert further disorder and bloodshed. Tho action of our report in this respect was approved. When the full text of the agreement on January 21 reached Washington the department S draft which is the protocol now before the Senate was promptly considered, prepared and cabled to Santo Domingo. where 1t was signed some days | later.
 Idea Was NevcT Entertained.
 "No purpose of putting either the agreement of January 2l or the protocol now before the Senate Into practical op- eration without submitting it to the Sen ate for approval was ever entertained. considered or discussed. The admlnistra- ton was proceeding in the usual and or- dinary way-that Is, 1t was negotiating | the treaty through the customary and acknowledged agencies, and when that | instrument was thought to be in proper | form 1t was duly submitted to the Sen | ate"