The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-02-17
SUBMITS LENGTHY
MESSAGE ON SAN DOMINGO
TO THE SENATE.
TOUCHES ON THE MONROE DOCTRINE
FOREIGN NATIONS APPEAL TO.
UNITED STATES TO PROSE
CUTE CLAIMS.

Washington, Feb. 17-The message
from the president transmitting to tie
senate a protocol of an agrec.se@lt be-
tween the United States and the Eo-
minican government, providing for
the collection and disbursement by the
United States Of the customs revenues
of the Dominican republic, was during
the day ordered made public, together
with the protocol, a letter from John
B. Moore, formerly assistant secretary
of state, which gives a statement re-
garding the award under the former
protocol, and the award Of the com
mission which settled the claims Of
the San Domingo Improvement COM
pany.
The message is of nearly 4,500 words
and was read in full to the senate. It
is largely discussion of the rights
and duties of the United States under
the Monroe doctrine and the president
says the protocol affords practical
test of the efficiency of the United
States government in maintaining the
ooSIi iiiS.Fs77 LII s.OSSo1hiiil1o 1liS llSoSetSS
the president says that conditions in
San Domingo have been
Growing Steadily Worse
for many years and debts have been
contracted beyond the power of the
republic to pay. Certain foreign coun-
tries, he says, have felt themselves
aggrieved because of the non-payment
Of the debts due their citizens and
have felt that the only way they could
get any guarantee Of payment would
charge of the customs affairs of the
republic.
1t is pointed out by the president
that the Monroe doctrine would pro-
hibit any foreign government from
stepping in and he says that those
who profit by this doctrine must ac-
cept certain responsibilities along with
the rights it confers. He says fur
ther:
THE Justification for the United
States taking this burden and incur
ring this responsibility is to be found
in the fact that it is incompatible with
international equity for the United
States to refuse to allow other powers
to take the only means at their dis
posal of satisfying the claims of their
creditors and yet to refuse, itself, to
take any such steps.
Will Not Seize San Domingo.
An especial point is made by the
fI,Sr a.
not propose to take any part of San
Domingo, or to exercise any other con-
troll over the island save what is nee
essary to its financial rehabilitation
in connection with the collection of
revenue, part of which will be turned
over to the government to meet the
necessary expenses of running it and
part of which will be distributed pro
rata aEaong the creditors of the re-
public upon basis of absolute equity.
Discussing the course aggTieved ma
tions- may take against American re-
publics without interference with the.
Monroe doctrine the president says
any action may be taken which docs
not. take the shape of interference
the despoilment of their territory un-
der any Disguise; but, short Of this,
when the question is one of money
claim, the only way which remains,
finally, to collect it is a blockade or
bombardment, or the seizure of the
customshouse, and this means, as has
been said above. what is in effect
possession. .
INVESTIGATE OIL BUSINESS.