Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-04-20
DOMINGO SNARL
May Be Strengthened Out In a
Very Simple Way.
ARBITRATE CLAIMS AT THE HAgUE

.RBITRATE CLAIMS AT THE HAGUE
Method Would Avoid the DAM
gers of the Plan Proposed by Mr.. !
Roosevelt, Though 1t May Not Suit
His Imperial Ideas.
The cavalier treatment the senate
has administered to Mr.. Roosevelt's
Santo Domingo treaty does not mean
an end to the Dominican question w
any means. 1t is going to be heard
from again, and perhaps frequently.
The American and foreign holders Of
mushroom claims against the negro
republic are not likely to permit the
president to be weaned from his friend
lineSs toward their interests. It is evil
dent they know a good thing when they
see it. The coveted cup of wine has
been so near their lips that they will
not rest until they have had more than
a taste. That they will keep in close
SSoSh ~ LuC dllOA uulluE
the next few months is to be expected,
and it would surprise nobody to see
evidences Of their influence with other
creditor nations" A bluff at Euro
pean interference in Santo Domingo
would be of value to these gentlemen.
That this sort Of thing may be engi-
neered is certainly a possibility.
Confessedly the conditions in the Do
minican republic are bad. There can
be no question that some portion Of the
claims now registered against that gov
eminent should be paid. If such claims
as are held by the subjects of Euro
pean governments are given serious
consideration by those governments the
United States will be called upon to
take a hand in some plan looking to
settlement. The men who have op-
posed the present treaty and have COM
passed it's death realize this. They
are not, as we understand 1t, opposed
to a settlement, but they will fight to
the end the plan Of settlement propos-
ed by Mr.. Roosevelt, for they are con-
vinced that would involve this govern
ment in needless and serious RESPONSE
bilities fraught with all sorts of dan
ger.
If the end at which President Roose-
welt is aiming is not the requirement
Of Santo Domingo, but is what has ap-
peared on the ~surface-the maintenance
Of peace coupled with the enforced pay
ment by Santo Domingo Of her legiti-
mate debit can be secured in a per-
fectly simple and easy manner and one
for which there is recent precedent.
There is no reason in the world why
the United States should not take the
initiative in securing arbitration at The
Hague of all the claims against Santo
Domingo, this to be followed by admin
istration of the republics custom
houses under international arrange
ment by which the collection shall be
done by representatives of all the cred
itor nations rather than by those Of this
government alone. This was the course
adopted in Venezuela. 1t satisfied all
| concerned, and instead Of building up
enmity against the United States,
| based on legitimate suspicion Of this
| country's motives, it made for friendly
feelings all around.
Such a plan would suit the ostensi'
| BILE purposes of the administration with
| regard to Santo Domingo. 1t would
meet the wishes and preserve the rights
| of all legitimate creditors. 1t would
| certainly be vastly better for the gov
eminent Of the United States than the
| plan of Mr.. Roosevelt, involving as the
latter does the responsibility Of polio
ing this side of the world. 1t may moi
suit the imperial ideas of the present
occupant of the White House, but II
would certainly meet the ideas Of the
American people.
There is no possible occasion fol
dragging in the Monroe doctrine. No
body Is going to question that cardina
principle of American faith. The PEG
pie of this country are not in a moo
to be scared by any such bugaboo. NJ
European nation has designs upon San
to Domingo, and the American people
do not propose that their government
shall have any such designs. They I'm
derstand that there is absolutely no ne
cessity for any grand stand play t.
bring about the proposed debt settle
ment. They are willing enough to SCI
the Santo Domingo tangle Strengthened
out, but they do not propose to perml
settlement in a manner that is funda
mentally wrong.
There is ample time between nov
and the assembling Of congress in tn
fall for the preparation Of a way to
ward a proper settlement. 1t is tn
duty of the president through the stat
department to abandon the presen
plans and look to settlement In tn
right way. When that is done the sen
ate will be found ready to ratify
proper treaty.-Atlanta Constitution.
The Delaware Preference.
rN-S.- TN,~-sy,S y