New-York tribune., 1905-02-17
[FRoM TIE TRIBUNE BuREAUI

Washington, Feb. 16.-President Roosevet's
notable message, transmitting the Dominican
was made public by the Senate, in
executive session to-day. 1t is as follows:
To the Senate:
1 submit herewith protocol concluded be
tween the Dominican Republic and the United
States
The conditions in the Republic of Santo Do
mingo have been growing steadily worse for
many years. There have been many disturb
anCes and revolutions. and debts have been
contracted beyond the power OF the repuolc 10
pay. Some of these debts were properly con-
tracted. and held by those who have
legitimate right to their money. Others are
without question. improper or exorbitant. con-
stituting claims which should never be paid in
full. and perhaps only to the extent of very
small portion of their nominal value.
Certain foreign countries have long felt them
selves aggrieved because of the non-payment OF
debts due to their citizens. The only way by
which foreign creditors could ever OBTAIN from
the republic itself any guarantee or payment
would be either by the acquisition OF territory
outright or temporarily, or else by taking pos.
session of the custom houses, which would, or
course. in itself. in effect, be taking possession
Of a certain amount of territory.
1t has for some time been obvious that those
who profit by the Monroe doctrine must accept
certain responsibilities along with the rights
which it confers; and that the statement
applies to those who uphold the Doctrine. 1t
cannot be too often and too emphatically as
serted that the United States has not the
Sb9HtSSl CeSIFe Tor territorial 999TdnClZcTUent
at the expense OF any of it's Southern neishbors,
and will not treat the Monroe Doctrine
cuse for such aggrandizement it's part. We
do not propose to take any part of Santo Do
mingo, or exercise any other control over the
island. save what is necessary to its financial
rehabilitation in connection with the collection
of revenue, part of which will be turned over to
the government to meet the necessary expense
ct running it, and part of which will be dis
tributed pro rata among the creditors of the
republic upon basis of absolute equity. The
justification for the United States taking this
burden and mourning this responsibility is to
be found in the fact that it is incompatible with
International equity for the United States to
fuse 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 aggrieVed nation can, without interfering
with the Monroe Doctrine, take what action il
fit in the adjustment of it's disputes with
American States provided that action does
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 the question is one
of money claim, the only way which remains
finally to collect it is blockade lombard
ment or the seizure of the custom houses, and
this nes7e, as has been said shove, what is in
effect possession, even though only tempo
rary possession of territory, the United States
then becomes party in interest, because under
the Monroe Doctrine it cannot see any European
power seize and permanently occupy the terri
tory of these republics; and yet such seizure of
territory, disguised undiseuised, may
eventually offer the ony way in which the
power in question can collect any debts, unless
there is interference on the part of the United
States.