The San Francisco call., 1905-03-23
Belgium the First Nation
to Take Advantage of Sen
ate's Refusal to Carry
Out the Presidents Plans
THREATENS SEIZURE
OF AN ISLAND PORT
To Add to the Troubles
of Morales Revolutionists
May Attempt to Wrest
the Government From Him

SAN DOMINGO. March 22.-The
news of the postponement by the Unit
ed States Senate Of action on the treaty
tion here acute, and an internal upris-
ing seems to be imminent, based on the
cry that President Morales has been
discredited in the United States. Pres
ident Morales says that he is prepared
to put down any revolution, but that a
more serious problem in his mind is
foreign complications growing out of
Belgium's demand, presented on March
81.
Belgium wants the customs receipts
Of port of Santo Domingo to the ex-
tent of s25,Ss3 month. according to a
former agreement on which no pay
ment has been made for three years.
This first demand is construed as a
direct result Of the failure Of the treaty
between the United States and Santo
Domingo. President Morales expects
similar demands by other powers,
which he will be helpless to resist. He
says he wants to pay all the republic S
debts, but sees the ruin of the country
with every port in the hands of a diff
ferent foreign power and no revenue
for the Government. While he sees no
light ahead he has blind faith that
right will triumph
In the course of an interview Morales
said to-day:
1t is entirely possible that the United
States may have to send an utimatum here,
on account of the Dominican Government be-
ing unable, though not unwilling, to meet its
obiga tions. 1t IS utterly impossible for the
Government to pay the sums due foreign gov
ernments unless the United States can pro-
cure from foreign powers a postponement ol
their demands. Otherwise those demands will
be pressed. l have no physical or moral force
the control OF the United States the resources
Of the islands will develop speedily and all
demands will be paid. with the result that
the country viii be educated to peace and
permanent prosperity
With two Dominican ports in the
hands of the United States and the
failure of the treaty, Dominicans be-
lieve that grab game by foreign pow
ers will begin at once An italian
cruiser was here a few days ago, but
withdrew to Kingston.
The American gunboat Castine is
here with loo men; the cruiser Chatta-
nooga is at Samana Bay; the Detroit
is at Puerta Plata. and the Dixie is at
Monte Cristi Rear Admiral Sigsbee
has gone to Guantanamo for consulta-
ton with Rear Admiral Barker.
With the seizure Of Dominican ports
by foreign powers, it is argued here,
the Monroe doctrine will be nullified as
regards this republic With the United
States in possession Of two ports it
would not be logical to oppose the seiz-
ure Of other ports by foreign powers.
At the same time the only hope of
President Morales Is that in some way
the United States can secure a post
ponement of seizure by European pow
ers. No steps to this end have been
initiated here.
President Morales has about 1900
men under arms ready to crush the
first uprising, but should the custom
houses be seized he speedily would be
without funds with which to paw his
army, which would Immediately desert.