The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-10
T.C.DAWS0N WAS
GREAT PACIFIER
Late Diplomat Had Success In
Latin American Republics.
COUNTRY LOST TRUSTED AGENT
His Life Was Often In Peril While on
Difficult Missions - Served Seven
Years In 5razl-Appointed Travel
ina Diplomatic Specialist In 1907.


ing Diplomatic Specialist In 1907.
Thomas Cleveland Dawson, resident
diplomatic officer of the state depart
ment at Washington, who died recent.
ly. had won by his singular success
in dealing with the Latin American re
publics the reputation of being the
great pacificator" He seemed to have
such a thorough insight into the char
acter of the South and Central Ameri-
can peoples that he was employed
again and again by the federal gov
ernmcnt on difficult missions. always
with conspicuous success. For this
reason he received the appointment of
resident diplomatic officer at Wash
ington, a sort of handy man who could
be dispatched at short notice to settle
any troubles that might arise in the
Latin American republics.
Born in Hudson, Wis, in 1868. Mr.
Dawson was graduated from Hanover
college and the Cincinnati Law school
Then he took up the practice of law in
Iowa, and for a time he went into
newspaper work in the same state
Returning to the law. he served as
assistant attorney general of Iowa
from 1891 to 1894. In 1897 he entered
the diplomatic service by becoming
secretary of legation at Rio de Janeiro,
where he met his wife, Miss Lula
Guerra Duval of Porto Allegro.
His Service In Brazil.
He stayed in Brazil till 1904, and
during his seven years of service was
five times charge d'afraires. He was
then appointed minister resident and
consul general to Santo Domingo
This appointment gave him his chance
of distinction. In 1906 and 1907 the
island was in turmoil, and President
Roosevelt proposed an arrangement
with the revolutionary government by
which the United States should under
take the supervision of the customs.
Then he asked Mr.. Dawson to obtain
some kind of popular Endorsement of
the plan, and this the minister resi-
dent did with much skill.
A story is told of these perilous times
when Mr.. Dawson's life was often in
danger He was sitting one day at the
pOIdNC WIN l. ACclbCllI NlOl dito anu 1JOl
Ramon Caceras, Morales rival and ul-
innate successor. The noise of a mob
approaching the palace was heard.
You must take responsibility for
this" said Mr.. Dawson to Caceras
'These are your men. Go to the win
dow and send them home"
"I'll take no responsibility for them
shouted Caceras.
Mr.. Dawson brushed him aside, went
himself to the window and there.
standing unarmed before the crowd
that had come to seize him, addressed
them quietly. He spoke of their griev-
ances. He reasoned with them and
showed his sympathy, with the result
that they were pacified and went quiet
ly away.
Some Of His Victories.
From Domingo Mr.. Dawson went to
Colombia in January. 1907. Here again
he had to smooth down susceptibilities
aroused by what was termed American
aggression. Once a crowd swept
through the police lines and invaded
the American legation. Minister Daw
son met them and received their ring
leaders with such quiet courtesy that he
overcame another crisis full of danger.
While in Colombia he brought about
an agreement between that country
and Venezuela for the free navigation
of the Orinoco and Zulia rivers
Haiti next claimed Mr.. Dawson's
services, and after another successful
term there he was appointed by Secre-
tary Knox as travelling diplomatic spP
cialist, with headquarters at Washing
ton. From then on he lived at the
seat Of the federal government aud
was dispatched on one mission after
another as the need of Il skilled diplo
matist made itself apparent Thus be-
was directly instrumental in settling
in Chile the long standing Alsop dis
pute. In tfis case the heirs of Alsop
& Co, an American concern, claimed
large sum from the Chilean govern
ment and for years could get no salts
faction.
Mr.. Dawson called on the president
of Chile and told him that he must
consent to arbtrate or pay the firm
S1,OO0,00O. The president refused.
Then i regret to inform you" said
Mr.. Dawson, that the United States
will not be able for some time to send
a minister here" He withdrew and
took train for Buenos Aires. In a
few days Chile thought better of the
matter, and Mr.. Dawson had scored
another success.
From that time till his death he was
employed constantly in Strengthening
out difficult situations, and Panama
Nicaragua and Honduras have each in
turn felt the skill of his diplomatic
hand