New-York tribune., 1905-02-17
THE DovryJcAN PROTOCOL.

The President has laid before the senate "na'
seems TO be a we'll devised protocol TOT ele
adjustment of Dominican affairs acooinp"ii! Is
Il with a particularly direct anu in'i'''o
ment in favor of the making or suci M a. -
mont The keynote of the whole matter Is clear
Iy sounded when the President says ~ IL ~
..patible with international equity 1or 'ie
"States TO refuse to allow other poNel -
.sthe only means at their disposal OF sauslyl
..tto oIa;ns of tbeir creditors and yet to refuse
.s+solf 70 4alra any such step" We cannot de-
Gently nIav tbe mart of the dog in the mahser.
II NAV be that there are some who wouio let the
consistent policy Of tfree-quarters OF cen'ui!
Iapse and view with complacency III! hutope".
operations. aggressions or acquisitions OF terri
+orr in the Central and Southern Americas.
There may be those, also. who would say 'hat
European nations have no rights IN tnls heinl-
snhere which we are bound to respect. If so, to
none of them will the Presidents message ap-
neal: but we cannot suppose they form an ap-
nreciahIa mart of the American nation The
mass of our people will, we believe, approve the
words of the President and the policy OF which
they are exponents
IT is we'll to note accurately what TINS proto-
col is and what ii is not 1t is an agreement on
our part TO try TO set Dominican hnances TO
rights both foreign and domestic; but 1t is not
an assumption of responsibility for them nor an
Endorsement of Dominican obligations. IL au-
thorizes the United States to take charge OF all
Dominican custom houses and to administer
them as il has already for some time been do
ing with one of them. but it does not give this
country ownership of or sovereignty over a
single rood of Dominican territory. 1t prom
ises such American aid as the Dominican gov
ernment may ask and as the United States may
deem proper for the restoration of credit, pres
ervation OF order and general advancement OF
civilized interests in the Dominican Republic,
but ii does not bind us to do one single thing
against our will. 1t gives us an uncommonly
strong hand in the island. but it leaves that
hand entirely free from entanglements and com
plications while it also scrupulously guards
against anything that might seem like arroga-
ton of sovereignty or oppression
How effective the arrangement will be for the
rehabilitation of Santo Domingo and for the
promotion of the general order and welfare of
that republic is subject for speculation tinged.
we may say, with optimistic anticipations OF
the benevolent purpose and the administrative
efficiency Of our own government there is no
doubt, Neither, believe, is there doubt of
the sincerity of the Dominican government in
it's desire be helped out Of the pit which years
of incompetence or corruption have dug and
into which it has fallen beyond the reach of self
rescue. 1t will be a generous and gracious
thing for this country thus to aid its weaker
neighbor. II will also be a practically profitable
thing for it will rid us in that quarter of a state
of affairs that has become an almost intolerable
nuisance will confirm the good faith and logic
of our traditional foreign policy concerning
Latin America and will relieve us of the menace
of disagreeable disputes, if not Of awkward COM
plications.