Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correapopdeut,

From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington ID. C. February %, 1905.
There are breakers ahead for the
San Domingo treaty, ia the estima-
ton OF leading Democratic Senators.
who declare that had not the Senate
so recently opposed the Presidents
wish by amending the several arbi-
tration treaties, despite his vigor-
Gus protests. a majority OF Republi-
can Senators would vote against the
San DOMINICAN protocol. That some
Republicans may do this seems ex-
tremely likely. among them Mr..
Hale Of Maine, who is above all else
q conservative, who did not hesitate
TO oppose the Spanish War to the
last ditch and who also opposed the
acquisition of the Philippines, for Q
time. A very serious problem is
presented by the San DOMINICAN
agreement. In the estimation of
many Senator'S its approval would
lead to period Of 'frenzied finance"
in the South American republics.
Financiers confident that eventually
they could prevail upon the United
States to compel the payment of their
loans, would lend the improvident
South Americans abundant funds, at
exhorbitant rates Of interest and
their proffers Of cash would be
promptly accepted. Later, when
the day of reckoning came, Euro
pean nations would call the stten-
tion Of the United States to the San
DOMINICAN precedent. drop asigpifi-
cant remark or two regarding the
probable necessity of their using
force TO protect the interests of their
citizens. creditors the South Amer
lean republics. and then this coun-
try would be compelled to step in
again and again and play the roll of
receiver for It's insolvent neighbors
70 the South. Such q program
would call for large navy, an in
creased marine corps and other ex-
pensive OUTLAWS, for which there
would be no possible way OF collect
ing from the South American ma
tions or their foreign creditors.
-
In the case OF San Domingo il in
pointed out that hardly more than
one fourth Of the sums for which
that unfortunate and spsndthrift
county has obligated itself were
ever advanced 10 il in actual cash.
Loans Of million dollars were made
On which she premium" amounted
70 fifty per cent. more. and the in
terest was fixed at from per cent.
month upwards and compounded
each month. OF course, the San
DOMINICAN protocol provides that
the United States shall have power
TO adjudicate all claims, but that of
itself is likely to prove an almost
interninable task and may provoke
rs hard feelings among European
creditor nations Is would a direct
refusal either to interfere or to per-
NIT them TO exert force.
-
Ii is still too early TO make any
definite predictions, although pre-
sent appearances are that the con-
vention will ultimately be ratified
after being materially amended. Al
long and very serious debate is Ger.
tain. however. and it is not impos-
sible that certain amendments may
Do incorporated in the treaty with
the hope Of making il ineffective al
q precedent 10 which European ma
tions may appeal when they have
difficulty in collecting the sums ad-
vanced by sheir citizens to other
South American borrowers.
e.
Little short Of . travesty on legis.
letion was the consideration Of the