The Penn's Grove record., 1905-02-24


Selling More Territory-New Conven-
tion Repeats Provisions For Our Con.
troll of Santo DomtngO's CustOms~
PrOtectorate Means Its Extension.
Washington, D. C.-The new Santo
Domingo protocol and the Presidents
message accompanying it We're made
public by the Senate. There was no
discussion of the protocols provisions
in the brief executive session that
was held to determine whether the
seal of confidence should be removed
from these important State papers.
Mr.. Roosevelt made plain his view
that if the American Government is to
maintain the principle that no hon.
American Power shall acquire territory
on the western hemisphere, it must be
willing to assume responsibilities for
the conduct of American republics:
He showed that he regarded the Do.
minican arrangement as a necessary
step in the direction of undertaking
such responsibilities and as affording
a practical test of this Governments
efficiency in maintaining the Monroe
Doctrine.
The trend of his argument vas that
if the United States Government de-
MED the right of European nations to
the collection of their Latin-American
debts, through seizure of territory, or,
what was practically equivalent. the
seizure of custom houses, it must as
sumo responsibility itself for the pay
ment of these obligations, CT take the
consequences.
1t does not pledge the United States
to guarantee the integrity of Santo Do.
.ningo, but it's preamble contains a
modified form of that provision, this
Government merely agreeing to re-
spect the complete territorial integrity
of the Dominican Republic"
Another important provision, giving
the protocol all the force Of a treaty;
is that the agreement is to take effect
after it's approval by the United States
Senate and the Dominican Republic.
That the purpose of the arrangement
provided by the protocol is to overcome
1.-THE imminent peril and urgent mem
ace of Intervention on the part of ma
tons whose citizens have claims al
ready established OF to be established"
is set forth also.
The protocol as submitted provides
that the United States, when agreeing
to respect the complete territorial in
tegrity of the Dominican Republic.
agrees to attempt the adjustment of all
the obligations of the Dominican Gov.
eminent, foreign as we'll as domestic,
f. H.. Al. 4~r s-o ~. - 4hh w.a.
lidity and amountof all pending claims.
If, to reach such adjustment, it shall
be considered necessary to name comI
missions, the Dominican Government
shall be represented on said commits
siOns.
The United States shall take charge
of the existing custom houses and those
which may hereafter be created; name
the employees necessary to their mans
agement and collect and take charge
of all custom house receipts. The Do
minican Government may appoint in
each of the custom houses an officer for
making an inspection On behalf Of Do
minican interests.
Out of the revenues collected the
United States shall deliver to the Do!
minican Government not less than for
ty-five per cent. for meeting the needs
of the public service. The United States
shall apply the ffty-fve per cent.
which it retains toward the payment
of the employees of the custom houses
and to the interest, amortization and
instruments of the Dominican debt.
foreign and domestic. The surplus
which may remain at the end of each
fiscal year shall be delivered to the
Dominican Republic, or shall be de-
voted to the payment of its debt, if it
shall so determine.
Any reform of the system of duties
and taxes shall be made in agreement
with the President of the United
States, and, therefore, the present tariff
and port duties may rot be reduced
except with his consent.
The United States, at the request of
the Dominican Republic. shall grant
the latter such other assistance as the
former may deem proper to restore the
credit, preserve the order, increase the
efficiency of the civil administration
and advance the material progress and
welfare of the Dominican Republic.