Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-23
FORCING TIE ISSUE
Foreign Creditors Of Santo Do
mingo Pressing Their Claims.
MAY COMBINE ACTION
EFFECT OF sENATE's FAILURE TO
RAT1FY TREATY.
Hope Not Abandoned by the State De-
partment-Prof Hollander to
Gather Information.

In the absence of the Belgian minister,
Baron Moncheur, now, in New York on a
hurried visit. nothing. is known at the
Belgian legation regarding the reference
of President Morales, in the dispatches
from Santo Domingto published today, to
the Belgian claims which the president
says are being pressed. Several days ago
Baron Moncheur received from his gov
ernment cablegram asking If any inves-
tigation was to be made by an American
commission into the Dominican situation.
1t is supposed that in view of the Sen
ate's absolute refusal to deal with the
Dominican matter the Belgian govern
ment feels that it is forced to pursue it's
own course.
Attitude of the Powers
If such be the Belgian position King
Leopold has ample company. The other
European powers, while entirely willing
to await the negotiations of Secretary
Hay, regard the attitude OF the Senate as
SO directly opposed to the proposed course
Of the government that they fear they
will be obliged to reach individual solu-
tions of the question.
AS a matter of fact the Belgian govern
ment has been keeping inzclose touch with
the State Department In the preceding
phases of the Santo Domingo matter. Last
fall, with Italy and Germany, Belgium
made inquiry as to the Intentions of the
United States relative to the collection OF
customs under the Santo Domingo Com
pany protocol, and they expressed some ap-
prehension that the interests of their cit
izens having claims against Santo Domingo
would suffer under the operations of the
protocol, for the reason that sufhcient rev
enue to meet them wouldsnot be available
after the Dominican government had pro-
vided for its own maintenance and the
United States had collected the revenues at
Monti Cristi and Puerto Plata.
Apprehensions Revived.
Their apprehensions on that score were
somewhat relieved by the submission to the
Senate of the proposed Dominican treaty,
which seemed to insure equal treatment for
all creditor nations in the collection and
disbursement of the DOMINICAN revenues.
Now, however, tits believed at the State
Department that, like. President Morales,
these creditor nations have conceived the
idea that the treaty Is completely lost and
that it is now case of each one for HIM
self. But the State Department officials
have by no means abandoned hope for the
treaty. and, in fact, Secretary Taft and
Acting Secretary Adee have been in confer
ence and in communication with Senator
Cullom. chairman of the Senate committee
on foreign relations, respecting the procure
ment of information and the collation. OF
facts and figures which, it is expected, will
go far toward removing any doubt as to
the merits of the treaty that may still linger
in the minds of the senators when the Sem
ate reassembleS next October.
Prof Hollander's Mission.
Not only is that work being conducted in
Washington, but Prof. j. H. Hollander of
Baltimore, at one time secretary of the
treasury of Porto Rico, has been selected
by the President to go to Santo Domingo,
make thorough study of the financial
conditions and report to him personally be-
fore Congress meets again. Secretary Taft
conferred today with Captain Pillsbury
relative to sending him to Santo Domingo
on a naval vessel.
1t is hoped that when the other creditor
powers become fully aware of the intention
of the executive to press the treaty at the
next session of the Senate, and to employ
the intervening period of time usefully in
the collection of information, they may be
disposed to refrain from forcing the issue
now.