The San Francisco call., 1905-02-17
TELLS SENATE WHY THIS.
NATION MUST DO POLICE DUTY
War With Europe the Penalty for Delay

enable them to secure the payment Of thar
claims would be to take possession OF the
the Dominican finances. this would mean very
possibly, permanent occupation OF Dominican
territory, for no period c9rId oe SET 70 the
the payment of the obligations and unliqudated
claims. The United States Government could
not interfere to prevent such seizure and Occu-
patton of Dominican territory without either
itself proposing some feasible alternative IN
the European governments that they would
not be allowed to collect their claims
1t would be an unfortunate attltude LOT tne
Government Of the United States to maintain
at present 1t cannot with propriety say that
it will protect Its own citizens and interests
on the one hand and yet on sns 0.ner rrnsi hand
their citizens and interests.
AS the result Of chronic disorders. attended
with a constant increase OF debt, the state OF =
things In Santo Domingo has become hopeless
unless the United States or some other strong
Government shall interpose 10 bring order out
OF chaos.
MUST MAKE A CHOICE.
The ordinary resources OF diplomacy and in
ternational arbitration are absolutely impotent
to deal wisely and effectively with the situa-
tion In the Dominican republic. Whlcn can
only be met BY organizing It's finances on a
sound basis and by placing the custom
houses beyond the temptation of insurgent
chieftains Either We must abandon our duty
minican people. who aspire to a republican
form of government while they are actually
drifting into condition OF permanent anarchy.
in which case must permit some other Gov
ernment to adopt it's own measures in order TO
safeguard it's own interests, or else we must
ourselves take seasdnable and appropriate ac-
tion.
Again and again has the Dominican Govern
ment invoked on its own behalf the aid OF the
United States IL has repeatedly done so in
recent years.
Ii is perhaps unnecessary to state that
step OF any kind has been taken by the admin
fstratfon under the terms Of the protocol which
Is herewith submitted. The republic OF Santo
Domingo has by this protocol wisely and pa
triotically accepted the responsibilities as we'll
as the privileges OF liberty and Is showing
that its resources viii permit OF IT'S oollsa-
tions. More than this II cannot do, and wnen
It has done this we should not allow II 20 De
molested.
cali attention 10 the urgent need OF prompt
action this matter We viii have great
opportunity to secure peace and stability IN
the island without friction or oloodshed oy act
ing in accordance with the cordial lnVitatlcn
Of the governmental authorities themselves IL
will be unfortunate from every STANDPOINT II
fail TO grasp this opportunity, for such fail-
AIRY violence in santo Domingo and very pos
sibly embarrassment in regard to foreign COM
plications This relief affords practical test
Of the efficiency of the United States Govern
THEapoRE ROOSEVELT.
Washington. Feb. IS. 1908
Accompanying the Presidents mes
sage Is a letter from John Bassett
Moore, formerly assistant Secretary Of
State, which gives a statement regard
ing the award under the former proto-
COL and the award OF the commission
which settled the claims Of the San Do
mingo Improvement Company.