Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-09
PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE
TO SENATE
States That Our Aid Has Been
Sought and ls erievously Needed
at the Earliest Moment
Possible
Rv Assoolatad Press.

ology is concerned and without regard
to the principles involved in the pro-
cedure proposed by the Dominican con-
vention. The committee agreed to take
vote on the treaty at 11.30 a. m. to-
morrow to determine whether the re-
port will be in favor of ratification or
rejection. What that report will be
cannot be determined positively, al
though 1t is believed 1t will be favor
able. The Democrats on the commit
tee have expressed themselves as
against the treaty fundamentally al
though they took an active part in the
presentation and adoption of amend
ments. 1t is expected most of the
Republican senator's will vote to re-
port the treaty as amended.
All of the amendments adopted by
the committee are with the general
aim of making the question stand alone
and of removing all chance of 1t being
used as n precedent for like procedure
In other countries under guise of being
required by the Monroe doctrine.
Venezuela May Follow Suit
The probability of the treaty being
brought up in the future as a prece-
dent was discussed freely in the COM
mittee today and it was predicted that
the procedure was a forerunner of
what may be expected to take place III
regard to Venezuela, 1t was de-
clared too that this government may
have to take over Santo Domingo
as territory of the United States. In
this connection an amendment will be
offered in the senate striking out that
part of the preamble whereby the Unit
ed States agrees to respect the COM
plete integrity of the Dominican re-
public.
The Presidents Message
The senate made public the second
message of President Roosevelt on the
Santo Domingo treaty, which is as
follows:
ITO the Senate: wish to call the
attention of the senate at this executive
session to the treaty with Santo DOM
lingo feel that I ought to state to
the senate that the condition of affairs
in Santo Domingo is such that it is
very much for the interest of that
republic that action on the treaty
should be had at as early moment as
the senate, after giving the matter full
consideration, may find practicable.
I call attention to the following
facts:
1. This treaty was entered into at
the earnest request of Santo Domingo
herself, and is designed to afford Santo
Domingo relief and assistance. Its
primary benefits will be to Santo Do
mingo. 1t offers the method most
war in the islands.
.. The benefit to the United States
will consist chiefly in the tendency un-
der the treaty to secure stability, order
and prosperity in Santo Domingo and
the removal of the apprehension lest
foreign powers make aggressions on
Santo Domingo in the course of col
lecting claims due to their citizens.
for it is generally to our interest that
all the islands in the Caribbean sea
should enjoy peace and prosperity and
feel good will toward this country.
The benefit to honest creditors will
come from the fact that for the first
time under this treaty practicable
method of attempting to settle the
debts due them will be inaugurated.
To Determine Just Debts
8. Many of the debts alleged to be
due from Santo Domingo to outside
creditors unquestionably on their face
represent far more money than ever
was actually given San Domingo, The
proposed treaty provides for process
by which impartial experts will de-
termlne what debts are valid and what
are in whole or in part invalid and will
apporton accordingly the surplus rev.
enue available for the payment of the
debts. This treaty offers the only
method for preventing the collection of
fraudulent debts, whether owed to
Americans or to citizens of other ma
tions.
4. This treaty affords the most prac-
ticable means of obtaining payment
for the just claims of American citi-
zens.
3. If the treaty is ratified, creditors
belonging to other nations will have
exactly as good treatment as creditors
who are citizens of the United States,
and at the same time Santo Domingo
will be protected against unjust and
exorbtant claims. If II Is not rati-
fed the chances are that American
creditors will fare i'll as compared with
those Of other nations; for foreign ma
tions, being denied the opportunity 10
get what is rightfully due their citizens
under the proposed arrangement, will
be left to collect the debts due their
creditors as they see fit, provided, of
course, there is not permanent occu-
pancy of Dominican territory. AS in
such case the United States will have
nothing to say as to what debts should
or would not be collected. and as
santo Domingo will be left without
aid assistance Or DrOtectiOn II is inn