The Washington herald., 1912-10-26
PLANS FOR Pence .
!. IN sANTO DOMINGO
First Steps Taken to Ameliorate
Conditions in Island by
Commissioner.
AMNESTY FOR THE REBELS

The first step In the efforts Of the spe
cial American commissioners to SAINT,
Domingo to bring about an amelioratioI
OF the menacing situation in that repub
lie was announced yesterday in dis
patches received at the State Depart
ment. The features OF the plan agreet
upon thus far are:
| The declaration of President Victoria
promulgated on October q. that he vii
retire on July !, 1914. the date when th'
term Of office of the late President Ca
ceres would have expired. BY Dominican
law. in case of the death of a President
in ONCE. his successor serves not the un
expired portion Of his predecessor'i
term. but begins a new term of six years
Elections for Victoria's successor will
be held In May, 1914.
Alfredo Victoria, nephew of the Presi.
dent. his Minister Of War, and generally
regarded as the ''casus belli'' in the Do
minican Republic because Of the use he
has made OF his extraordinary influence
with his uncle, the President. Is to retire
from the Cabinet at once.
Minister OF Finance Cordova will also
withdraw in the near future.
Amnesty Is offered all rebels. political
prisoners are to be released at once. and
all political exiles are to be permitted 10
return to the Dominican Republic as
soon as they please.
1t Is understood that all Of these
changes were brought about through the
negotiations OF w. T. S. Doyle. OF the
Department Of State. and Brig. Gen
Frank Mcintyre. OF the Bureau OF In.
sular Affairs. who are special commits
sioners instructed by the United States
to do what they can to remedy condi-
tions In the Dominican Republic. The
purpose Is to allay. II possible. the re-
bellion row in progress against the Do
minican government by a policy Of con.
ciliation. and especially by assurances
that the time will not be long before
all opponents OF the present administra-
tion will have opportunity to make them
selves felt in the forthcoming election.
Reason for Change.
The withdrawal Of Gen. Victoria from
the situation was arranged as a guar
antee to the Dominican people that
henceforth they may expect no more OF
the harsh and exasperating measures
for which the Minister of War was held
responsible. Victoria is to be succeeded
In the Cabinet by Elias Brache. a young
lawyer. said to have the support Of all
factions.
The retirement OF the Minister of
nance lE Sdlu 10 ne utslrdDit III
that n new order of things may be in
stituted in the financial affairs of the
republic. There have been SERIOUS charges
OF the diversion OF government funds
from their proper purposes. assump-
ton Of unwarranted financial obligations.
the nonpayment Of debts. and downright
graft and dishonesty. A change in this
department will. 1t is hoped, effect a
beneficial change.
The other measures are for the pur-
pose of conciliating the rebels and CIV
ing assurance that ell parties and In
dividuals will have a fair chance to par
ticipate in the affairs OF the republic.
Whether the rebels now operating in the
north will be contented with this pro-
gramme and give up their struggle
against the government Is not known
here. There is much hope that the pro-
gramme announced yesterday will have
the desired effect. II is believed that
even IL the leaders do not accept the
programme that the people will and
withhold from the revolution their fur
ther suppor:
Meantime. much consideration is be-
ing given TO the question of the re-