The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-10
The Fundamental Question Posed by
the Santo Domingo Treaty.

As there are at present only eighty
eight Senators, there is no doubt that
the thirty-two Democrats, II they act
together. can assure the rejection OF the
Santo Domingo treaty. We find II hard
to believe. however, that they will pursue
such course, in view'of the grave alter
native which the President has directed
attention in his special message and with
which. IA the Venezuela precedent has
shown, we should be forthwith con-
fronted
Should the limitations and precautions
already effected or TO be effected by
amendment seem inadequate to any
member OF the Senate. it will be necessary
for him to face frankly and squarely the
alternative to which undoubtedly this
country will be relegated by rejection
OF the Santo Domingo treaty. II - still
fresh in remembrance that the blockade
of Venezuelan seaports by the combined
fleets of three European Powers resulted
In the extortion from tho Caracas Govern
ment OF an agreement that about third
of the customs revenues OF La Guayra
and Puerto Cabelo should be collected
and distributed among foreign credl-
tors until their claims should have been
fully liquidated Our State Department
held that 80 long rs the creditor Powers
refrained from the avowed dismember-
ment or prolonged occupation of Nene-
guelan territory the Monroe Doctrine
did not authorize us to oppose the col
lection BY force of debts due or alleged 10
he due by the Government or citizens
of an American Commonwealth to for
eign creditors.
We pointed out at the time that if this
Interpretation of the duties imposed upon
us by the Monroe Doctrine were sound
there could be no difference in principle
between the temporary sequestration of
a fraction Of the customs revenue col
lectible NJ two designated ports and
the conhscation for an indefinite period
OF all the income derivable from ali the
Venezuelan custom houses The only diff
erence would be that incident to the com
parative magniI lie of the obligations
incurred There is no doubt that the
liquidation of the whole foreign indebted
ness chargeable to some American Com
monwealths would necessitate the appli
% cation of their whole customs revenue
for an indefinite period, especially il a
rigorous investigation and fair adjudl-
cation of the claims were not assured by
the Intervention of an impartial third
party We went on to point out that
the Latin American debtor Common
weaths were in the habit of relying
mainly on their customs revenues TO
defrav the cost OF their internal admin
istration. including the expenditure for
public education and for the mainte-
nance OF order. We concluded by in
quiring whether the debtor Common
wealths, finding themselves thus de-
prived Of their principal financial re-
source. or restricted to such meagre
allotments as the receiver for their cred
itors might voluntarily make, could not
justly complain of a violation of that
provision OF the Monroe Doctrine which
prohibits European countries to "con-
troll in any way the destiny OF a Latin
American republic
Shall we or shall we not sanction a
principle the logical application Of which
might reduce many an American re-
public to the actual predicamcnt OF
Egypt? That is the fundamental question
which ought to be considered 10y Sena-
tors before they make up their minds Ia
reject the Santo Domingo treaty