The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-17
Necessary to Defend the
Monroe Doctrine.
THUS Mr.. ROOSEVELT
He transmits the New Dominican
Protocol to the Senate, and There
with States the Reasons For Be-
coming San Domingo's
Fiduciary Agent. ].
(By the Associated Press. )

Roosevelt's message transmitting 10
the Senate the new Dominican proto-
col of an agreement providing for
the collection and disbursement by
the United States OF the customs rev.
enues OF San Domingo for the ADJUST
ment of all the obligations of that
government was today made public
by order of the Senate in executive
session. The document includes the
new agreement as we'll as the original
protocol and award of the commits
sion OF arbitration, for the settlement
of the claims of the San Domingo
Improvement Company, under which
agents or the United States are al
ready collecting the revenues at GER
tain of the ports OF the Dominican
government.
Few documents that have come to
the Senate in relation to any or the
South or Central American West In
dian REPUBLICS, have attracted so
much attention. Because of the con-
troversy that has arisen as. to the
right ofthe executive TO enter into
treaty arrangements with any Tor
eign government, without the advice
and consent of the Senate. extraor-
dinary interest has been aroused. The
document came TO the senate yester-
for most Senators to leave the cham
ber. and therefore it was brought up
soon after the Senate convened to-
da--. The message of the President
outlined the policy OF the adfnlnis-
tration in relation to the Monroe doc
trine. holding that it demanded tnat
this government take charge OF the
customs of American States, when IL
is manifest that thev are unable to
maintain their own integrity IN
beginning MS message the Presldent
says that conditions in san Domingo
has been growing steadily worse 1or
many years, and debts have been con-
,racted beyond the power OF the re-
public to pay. Certain forcisn
countries. he says, have felt them
selves aggrieved because OF the non
payment OF debts due their citizens.
and have felt that the only way tney
could get any ssaarantH" OF pay iiieIe
would be by acq'. sitIon of territory
or taking charge of the customs al
fairs of the republic.
II is pointed out b. the president
that the Monroe Doctrine would pro-
hibit any foreign government from
stepping in and he says that those
who profit By this doctrine must ac-
rept ceri:iir spensipiiiGes atong WIN
the rights L confers. hel says
further:
states tohing ihis burden and incur
r,up, tins responsibility is TO pc founu
I'm the fact that it is incompatipie
with International equity tor IN
United states 10 refuse 10 allow otfti
powers 10 take the only means d.
their d;spnsal OF satisfying the claiHs
of their creditors and YET 10 ieiu'c
itself. 10 take any such steps.
An especial point is made oy tne
prcsidcnt that this government uots
not propose to take any part Oh can
Domingo or to exercise any othef
control over the island save Wnat IL
necessary to it's financial renapilea-
iion in connection with the co'i.ct'oh
of revenue. part Of which VIII De
turoed over to the government 10
meet tine necessary expense OF riiil-
ming IT aud part of which VIII he uiS-
tributcd pro-rata among the creditors
of the republic upon basis OF apso-
iltte equity.
Discussing the course aggricved ma
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 interference
with their form of government or or
the despoiimcnt of their territory un>
der any disguise. But. short Of TINS,
when the question is one OF money
claim the only Way which remains
finally TO collect il is a blockade, OF
bombardment. or the seizure of the
custom houses, and this means. rs has
been said above. what is III effect Il
possession, even though only a temp
orary possession of territory. The
United States then becomes a party
In interest because under the Monroe
Doctrine ii cannot see any EuropeaE
lower seize and permanently occupy
The territory of one of these republics
and vet such seizure of territory dis
Suised or undisguised. may eventual
lv offer the only way in which the
posecr i'm question can collect any
debts. unless there is interference on
the part of the United States.
sThcre are Governments which do
sometimes take energetic action fos
the protection of their subjects in the
enforcement of merely contractuai
claims and thereupon American cone
ceesionaries supported by powerful in
iuences make loud appeal TO the
United States government In similar
cases for similar ACTON. They COM
plain that IN the actual posture Of af-
fairs their valuable properties are
practically co,fiscated. that American
enterprise is paralyzed and that un-
Iess they are fullv protected even by
the enforcement OF their merely con-
fractuaI rights. it means tho aban-
doninent 10 the subjects OF other gov
ernments of the interests of American
trade and commerce through the sac
riflce Of their investments BY excess