Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-16

willie lHey are ACTUALLY uIi1llUS lUlO d Coii-
dition of permanent anarchy, in which case
we must permit some other government
to adopt its own measures in order to
safeguard it's own interests, or else we
must ourselves take SeaSonable and appro-
pirate action.
Again and again has the Dominican gov
eminent invoked on its own behalf the aid
of the United States. 1t has repeatedly
done SO of recent years. In 1899 1t sought
to enter into treaty relations by which it
would be placed under the protection of the
United States government. The request
was refused. Again in January, 1904, Its
minister of foreign affairs visited Washing
ton and besought the help of the United
States government to enable it to escape
from its financial and social disorders. Com
pliance with this request was again de-
clined, for this government has been most
reluctant to interfere in any way, and has
finally concluded to take action only be-
cause 1t has become evident that failure to
do so may result in situation fraught with
grave danger to the cause of international
peace.
In 1903 a representative of a foreign gov
eminent proposed to the United States the
joint fiscal control of the Dominican re-
public by certain creditor nations, and that
the latter should take charge of the GUS
tom houses and revenues and give to the
dominican government certain percent
age and apply the residue to the payment
ratably of claims of foreign creditors.
The United States government declined to
approve or to enter into such an arrange
ment. But 1t has now become evident that
decided action If some kind cannot be
much longer delayed. In view of our past
experience and our knowledge of the actual
situation of the Dominican republic, def
mite refusal of the United States govern
ment to take any effective action looking
to the relief of the Dominican republic and
to the discharge of its own duty under the
Monroe doctrine can only be considered as
an acquiesceEce in some such action by an
other government
10 urica ;,,ia
craftsmanship, the Platt amendment, has
provided a method for preventing such diff
hcult1es from arising In the new republic
of Cuba. In accordance with the terms of
this amendment the republic of Cuba can
not issue any bonds which can be collected
from Cuba, save as a matter of grace, I'M
less with the consent of the United States
which is at liberty at all times to take
measures to prevent the violation of tie
letter and spirit of the Platt amendment.
If a similar plan could now be entered upon
by the Dominican republic it would I'M
doubtedly be of great advantage to them
and to all other peoples for under such an
arrangement no larger debt would be in
Cured than could be honestly paid and
those who took debts not thus authorized
would, by the mere fact of taking them
put themselves in the category of specula-
tors or gamblers, who deserved no consid-
Grafton and who would be permitted to re-
ceive none; so that the honest creditor
would on the one hand be safe while on
the other hand the republic would be safe
guarded against molestation in the interest
of mere SPECTATORS.
An Alternative Presented.
But no such plan at present exists. and
under existing circumst ances, when the
condition of affairs becomes such as 1t has
become in Santo Domingo, either we must
submit to the likelihood of infringement of
the Monroe doctrine or we must ourselves
agree to some such arrangement as that
herewith submitted to the Senate. In this
case, fortunately, the prudent and far-see-
ing craftsmanship of the Dominican gov
eminent has relieved US of all trouble. At
their request we have entered into the
agreement herewith submitted Under it
the custom houses will be administered
peacefully honestly and economically 45
per cent of the proceeds being turned over
to the Dominican government and the re-
mainder being used by the United States
to pay what proportion Of the debts it is
possible to pay on an equitable basis. The
republic will be secured against overseas
aggression. This in reality entails no new
obligation upon us, for the Monroe doctrine
means precisely such a guarantee on our
2art.
1t is perhaps necessary to state that
no step of any kind has been taken by the
administration under the terms of the pro-
tocol which Is herewith submitted.
The republic of Santo Domingo has by
this protocol wisely and periodically ac-
cepted the responsibilities well as the
privileges OF liberty, and is showing with
evident good faith Its purpose to pay all
that its resources will permit Of its obliga-
tons. More than this it cannot do, and
when it has done this we should not permit
1t to be moleSted We on our part are
simply performing in peaceful manner, not
only with the cordial acquiescence but in
accordance with the earnest request of the
government concerned, part of that inter-
national duty which is necessarily involved
in the assertion of the Monroe doctrine. We
are bound to show that we perform this
duty in good faith and without any inten-
Quoting ourselves otherwise than so as to
benefit both these weaker neighbors and
those European powers which may be
brought into contact with them.
1t is in the highest degree necessary
that we should prove by our action that
the world may trust in our good faith and |