The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-14
PLANS FOR PEACE
IN SANT0 DOMINGO
United States to Turn to Island and
superintend Collection
of Customs.
SITUATION NOW COMPLICATED

| With disturbances in other parts OF
Latin America quoting down. the United
| States government is now preparing to
| take a hand in an extremely nasty sit
uatIon which has long existed in the
| Dominican republic. State Department
officials have been deferred from at
tempts to improve matters in the island
republic only by the greater pressure of
the NcaraGuan revolution. the Gibson
incident. and other troublesome matters.
In Just what form the authority OF
the United States will be asserted in
Santo Domingo has not yet been decided.
Unless matters show some Improvement
in the near future. however. vigorous
measures will be adopted to remedy the
situation. The United States not only
has authority to look after the Domini-
can republic. but is bound by treaty to
a measure OF protection of the stability
OF the government OF the republic One
United States warship, the Petrol. is al
ready in Dominican waters, and it is
more than likely that other vessels, and
perhaps marines. will be sent there soon.
The Petrol will be relieved soon by the
Wheeling.
A cancerous revolution has been grow
Ing in a remote section OF the republic
almost ever since last winter, when
Eladio Victoria was elected President
following the assassination of President
Caceres This revolutionary activity has
conferred in the northern part of the re-
public. near Puerto Plata. and along the
Haitian-Dominican boundary line. The
rancorous boundary dispute between
Haiti and Santo Domingo has complicated
matters, and Haitians are known to have
deliberately Joined the revolutionists in
attacking the Dominican forces. These
Joint activities came TO a climax about
two months ago, near Dajabon. border
town. when the Ha!tians and Dominicans
together captured that place. The sup
port given the rebels by the Haitians,
however. ended suddenly, when President
Leconte of Haiti was killed in the de-
struction OF his palacesb an explosion
OF powder magazines.
Capture Border Towns.
1t is known that the rebels have cap
tured not only Dajabon. but other border
towns where there are customs houses.
These are still in their possession. The
teeth Of the convention by which the
United States became practically trus-
tee in bankruptcy for the Dominican
republic lies in the clause which pledges
this government to take such steps as
il deems necessary to protect the re-
ceiyer general of customs in the per-
formance of his duties. In other words,
the United States Is practically under
obligations to keep the customs houses
immune from seizure by a rebel force
and to see that the revenues are properly
collected for the established government.
This scheme of administration has
worked out so successfully, resulting in
the rapid throwing of Of the debts of
Santo Domingo and the accumulation of
funds in the public treasury for domes-
tic purposes, that this government Is de-
termined that the gains of the last ten
years shall not be lost through any revo-
lutionary activities.
The situation is further complicated by
the fact that the existing government is
itself giving considerable dissatisfaction
throughout the republic. Elfredo Vic
toria, formerly a colonel in the Domini-
can 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 adj
vantage of the assassination OF Presi-
dent Caceres to get control Of things.
and had his uncle. Eladio Victoria,
chosen President. The nephew. as Min
lister of War. has since then been the
real ruler Of the country.