The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-09-14
j. S. SEEKS TO QUIET
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Vigorous Measures Will RI
Taken to Quell Existing
Revolution There.
LONG STANDING DISPUTE
Old Trouble With Hayti Oycr
Boundary Lines Is Principal
Cause.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.--with disturb.
ances In other parts Of Latin America
Quieting down. the United States Gov.
ernrnent is now preparing to take A
hand In an extremely nasty stus,i,,
which has long existed in the DomInl.
can Republic. State Department of,.
cials have been deferred from attemn,s
To improve matters in tho island rcpuh.
lie only by tho greater pressure NJ tho
Nicaraguan revolution. tho Gibson in.
cidont aud other troublesome matters.
In Just what form tho authority "
tho United States will he asserted In
Santo Domingo has not vet been do.
cided. Unless matters show somo I'm
rrovement in the near future, however.
vigorous measured will be adopted "a
remedy tho situation. The United Sta,.,
not only has authority to look after the
Dominican Republic. but is bound nv
treaty to measure ot protection u
the stability of the government of ths
republic. one United States wsrship.
the Petrel, is already in Dominican
waters. and 1t Is more than likely that
other vessels and perhaps marines will
be sent there soon. The Petrol will soon
be relieved by the Wheeling.
\ revolution has been growing in re-
mote sections OF the republic almost
ever since last winter when Eladlo
Victoria was elected President follow
ing the assassination of President Ca
ceres. This revolutionary activity has
centred in the northern part OF the re-
public, near Puerto Plata, and along
the Haytian- Dominican boundary line
The rancorous boundary dispute be-
tween Hayti and Santo Domingo has
complicated matters. and Ilaytians are
known to have joined the revouti0nists
deliberately In attacking the Domini-
can forces. These joint activities camo
to a climax about two months ago near
Dajabon, border town, when the Hay
tians and Dominicans together cap
tured that place. The support given to
rebels by the Haytians, however. ended
suddenly when President Lecontc Of
Hayti was killed In the destruction OF
his palace by an explosion of the pow
der magazines. Since then the deep
seated trouble between the two repuh-
lies has been latent, although the revo-
lutionary disturbances have continued
alo.lg the border.
II is known that the rebels have cap
tured not only Dajabon but other border
towns where there are custom houses.
! These are still in their possession. The
teeth Of the convention 10y which IN"
United States became practically trus-
| tee in bankruptcy for the Dominican Re
public lie in the clause which pledges this
Government TO TAX" such steps as It
deems necessary to protect the receiver
general of customs in the performance
| Of his duties In other words. the United
States is practically under obligation to
| keep the custom houses immune from
| seizure by rebel force and to see that thss
established Government. This scheme Of
administration has worked out 30 suc-
| essfully, resulting in the rapid throw
ing of of the debts Of Santo Domingo
and the accumulation Of funds in The pub
| lie treasury for domestic purposes that
this Government il determined that the
gains Of the last ten years shall not he
The situation is further complicated by
the fact that the existing Goverumen;
itself is giving considerable dissa tisfac-
tion throughout the republic. Elfredo
Victoria. formerly a Colonel in the 10
minican army. has established himself
as practically the military dictator Of
the republic and his harsh rule is the
cause of the present unrest.
| Victoria took advantage Of the assas-
snation of President Caceres to get con-
troll of things and hadohis uncle, Eladio
| Victoria chosen President. The nephew
as Minister Of War since then has been the
real ruler of the country. lnasmuch AZ
the leaders Of the revolutionary move
ment are not such as to inspire any hope
of better government in the event OF
their success. it ia considered most likely
that reform upon the part Of the estab-
lished Government will be insisted upon
by the United States