The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Roosevelt Writes Senate Rexardiu
 nOminlrnu Trentv

Roosevelt Writes Senate nexarding Dominican Treaty.
 Washington. March s.--The Senate in executive session today made public the second message of President Roose- welt on the San Domingo treaty. The message follows:
 To the Senate-I wish to call the att tention of the Senate at this executive session to the treaty with San Domin- go. I feel that ought to state to the Senate that the condition of affairs in San Domingo Is such that 1t is very much for the interest of that Republic that action on the treaty should be had at as early a moment as the Senate, after giving the matter full consider ation. may find practicable.
 I call attention to the facts:
 First-This treaty was entered into at the earnest request of Santo De- mingo itself and Is designed to afford Santo Domingo relief and assistance Its primary benefit will be to Santo Do- mingo. It offers the method most like ly to secure peace and to prevent war in the island.
 Second-The benefit to the United States will consist carefully in the tendency under the treaty to secure sta- bility. order and prosperity in Santo Domingo, and the removal of the ap- prehension lest foreign powers make aggressions on Santo Domingo in the course of collecting claims due to their citizens, for 1t is greatly to our in- terest that all the islands in the Carib- bean Sea should enjoy peace and pros perity and feel good will toward this country. The benefit to honest credit ors will come from the fact that for the first time under this treaty a practice able method of attempting to settle the debts due them will be inaugurated. Third--Many of the debts alleged to be due. from Santo Domingo to outside creditors unquestionab1y on their face represent far more money than ever was actually given santo Domingo. The proposed treaty provides for pro- cess by which impartial experts will determine what debts are valid and what are in whole or in part invalid. and will apportion accordingly the sur plus revenue available for the payment of the debts. This treaty offers the only method for preventing the collec- ton of fraudulent debts whether owed to. Americans or to citizens of other countries.
 | American Claims.
 Fourth-This treaty affords the most practicable means of obtaining pay ment for the just claims of American citizens
 | Fifth-If the treaty is ratified cred | itors belonging to other nations will | have exactly as gooa treatment es | creditors who are citizenshef, the United ! States and at Inc same tirs 's3antJ D0s | mingo will be protected against unjust | and exorbitant claims. If 1t Is not rat | flied the chances are that American
 creditors will fare i'll as compared witt
 those of other nations: for foreign na'
 tions being denied the opportunity tC
 get what is rightfully due their citi.
 gems under the proposed arrangement l will be left to collect the debts du,
 their citizens as they see fit. provided
 of course, there Is no permanent occu 1 pancy of Dominican territory. As 1T
 such case the United States will hay,
 nothing to say as to what debts should
 or should not be collected, and as SantC Domingo will be left without aid. as
 sistance or protection, 1t is impossibl,
 to state that the sums collected iron
 it will not be improper in amount. IT
 such an event whatever Is collected b,
 means of forcible intervention will b,
 applied to the creditors of foreign na
 tions in preference to creditors wht
 are citizens of the United States. Sixth-The correspondence betweeI
 the Secretary of State and the Minis
 ter of Hayti submitted to the Senat,
 several days ago. showed that our DO
 sition is explicitly and unreservedl!
 that under no circumstances do we in
 tend to acquire territory in possession
 of either Hayti or Santo Domingo, |
 being stated In these letters that Il
 even the two Republics desired to be.
 come a part of the United States. tn,
 United States would refuse Its assent
 Seventh-Santo Domingo grieyously needs the aid of powerful ana | friendly nation. This aid we are abl,
 and I trust we are willing to bestow
 She has asked for this aid and the ex. pressions of friendship repeatedly
 sanctioned by the people and the Gov.
 ernment of the United States warrant
 her in believing that 1t will not bt
 withheld in the hour of her need | (Signed) Theodore Roosevelt. The White House. March 6, 1905.