The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-11
ACTION URGED ON SANTO DO.
MINGO TREATY.
agreement Entered into At the
Earnest Request OF Island Re.
publtc-protecti0n from Unjust
Claims and Greater Stability of
Government.

:" executive session yesterday made
public the seq message of President
hoose selt on tae 5anto Domingo treaty.
The message follows:
The senate:-l wish to call the at.
tention of the senate at this executive
session to the treaty with Santo Do
mingo. l feel that ought to state to
the senate that the condition of affairs
In Santo Domingo is such that it is
very much for the interest of that re-
public that action on the treaty should
De had at as early a moment as the
senate, after giving the matter full
consideration, may find practica BILE.
call attention to the following facts:
Request of Santo Domingo.
First-This treaty was entered into
at the earnest request of Santo Domingo
herself, and is designed to afford Santo
Domingo relief and assistance. It's
primary benefit will be to Santo Do
mlngo. 1t offers the method most like
~ to secure peace and prevent war in
the island.
Second-The benefit to the United
States will consist chiefly in the ten
dency 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 it Is greatly to our interest
that all the islands of the Carl bbean
sea should enjoy peace and prosperity
and feel good will toward this country.
The benefit to honest creditors will
come from the fact that for the first
time under this treaty a practica BILE
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 unq uestionably on their face
represent far more money than was
ever actually given Santo Domingo.
The treaty provides a process by
which impartial experts will deter
mine what debts are valid and what
are in whole or in part invalid, and
will apportion accordingly the surplus
available for the payment of debts.
The treaty offers the only method for
preventing the collection of fraudulent
debts. whether owed to Americans or
citizens of other countries.
Fourt-This treaty affords the most
practicable means of obtaining pay
ment for the just claims of American
citizens.
Same Treatment for All.
Fifth-If the treaty is ratified, cred
itors belonging to other nations will
have exactly as good treatment as
creditors who are citizens Of the Unit
ed States, and at the same time Santo
Domingo will be protected against un-
just and exorbitant claims. If it is
not ratified, the chances are that
American citizens will fare ill as com.
pared with those Of other nations, for
foreign nations, being denied the op-
portunity to get what is rightfully due
their citizens under the proposed ar
rangement, will be left TO collect the
debts due their creditors as they see
fit, provided, of course, there is not
permanent occupation OF Dominican
territory. As in such cases the United
States will have nothing to say as to
what debts should or should not be
collected, and as Santo Domingo will
be left without aid, assistance or pro-
lection, it is impossible to state that
the sums collected from it will not be
improper in amount. In such event,
whatever is collected by means of fore
ible intervention will be applied to the
creditors of foreign nations in prefer
ence to creditors who are citizens of
the United States.
Sixth-The correspondence between
the secretary of state and the minister
of Hayti, submitted to the senate sew
eral days ago. shows that our position
is explicitly and unreservedly that un-
der no circumstances do we intend to
acquire territory in or possession OF
either Hayti or Ssnto Domingo, it be-
ing stated in these letters that even IT
the two republics desired to become
part of the United States the United
States would certainly refuse its con-
sent.
Seventh-Santo Domingo grievously
needs. the aid of q powerful and frlend-
" nation. This aid we are able, and
trust that we are willing to bestow.
She has asked for this aid, and the ex-
pressions of friendship repeatedly sanc-
toned by the people and the govern
ment of the United States warrant her
in believing that it will not be with
held in the hour Of her need.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. March s, 1905.
Corfely0u Appoints Assistant.
Washington, March 8.-Postmaster
General Cortelyou announces that
Frank p. Hitchcock, OF Massachusetts,,
has been selected as first assistant post
master general. Mr.. Hitchcock was
at one time chief clerk in the depart
ment of commerce and labor and dur
ing the presidential campaign was as
sistant secretary Of the Republican ma
tional committee.
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