The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-21

.BiZed-
Washington, February 16.--Presi-
dent Roosevelt's message transmit
ting to the Senate the new Dominican
protocol of an agreement providing
for the collection and disbursement
by the United States of the customs
of San Domingo for the ad-
justment of all the obligations of that
government, was today made public
by order of the Senate in executive
session. The document includes the
new agreement, as we'll as the original
protocol and awards of the commits
sion of arbitration. for the settlement
of the claims Of h San Domingo
Improvement Company, under which
agents Of the United States are already
collecting the revenues at certain Of
the ports of the Dominion govern
ment.
Few documents that have come To
the Senate in relation to any Of the
South or Central American or West
Indian republics have attracted so
much attention. Because of the con-
troversy hat has arisen as to the
right Of the executive to enter into
treaty arrangements with any foreign
government, without the advice and
consent Of the Senate, extraordinary
interest has been aroused The doc:
ument came to the Senate yesterday
at an hour past the usual time for
most Senators to leave the chamber
and therefore it was brought UP soon
after the Senate convened today.
The message of the President out
lined the policy of the administration
in relation to the Monroe doctrine.
holding that it demanded that this
government take charge of the Gus
toms OF American states, when it. is
manifest that they are unable to main
tain their own integrity. in begin
ming his message the President says
the conditions in San Domingo have
beer growing steadily worse for many
years and debts have been contracted
beyond the power Of the republic to
pay. Certain foreign countries, he
Gays. have felt themselves aggrieved
because of the non-payment of debts
due their citizens, and have felt that
the only way they could ever get any
guarantee Of payment would be by
acquisition of territory or taking
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
further:
1.-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 tho
United States tt refuse TO allow other
powers to take the only means at their
disposal of satisfying the claims OF
their creditors and yet to refuse itself.
to take any such steps"
An especial point is made by tn"
President that this government does
not propose to take any part of a
Domingo or to exercise any other
control over the island save what is
necessary to it's financial rehabilita-
ton in connection with the collection
Of revenue. part of which will be turn,
ed over to the government to meet
the necessary expense of running it
and part OF which will be distributed
pro rata among the creditors of the
= republic upon a basis OF absolute
equity.
Discussing the course aggrieved IA
tons may take against American re-
pulics without interference with the
Monroe doctrine, the President says
n action may be taken which docs
not take the shape of interference with
their form of government, or of the
despoilment of their territory under any
disguise. But, short of this when tue
question is one of a money claim, tire
only way which remains finally to col
aect it is a blockade, or bombardmeut,
LH the seizure Of the custom houses.
and this means, as had been said above.
what Is in effect a possession, even
though only a temporary possession OF
territory. The United States then be-
ONE a party in interest. because unier
the Monroe doctrine it cannot see any
European power seize and permanent
w occupy the territory of one of these
republics. and yet such seizure of ter
citory, disguised or undisguised, may
eventually offer b only way IN. which