The Washington herald., 1913-12-25
PROTEST BASED
ON j. 5. note
Dominican Governme ent
Causes Election Observers
to Be Unofficial"
FIRST PLANS CHANGED
Representatives Sent from This Coun.
Try Treated as "T1urists" and
Not Permitted in Voting Places.

The protest of the Dominican govern
ment against the Stzte Departments an
nounced intention to observe" the Do
minican elections is finally made clear
in the text of the notes exchanged be-
tween Minister Sullivan and the Domini-
!can foreign office officials. The notes re-
veal the fact that the original intention
Of the State Department was very con-
siderably altered as a result OF the Do
minican protest against the proposed ac-
tion.
The Dominican protest seems to have
been directly the cause of the observers"
being designated as unofficial" as Min
lister Suliv:n's note shows that 1t was
the first inteltion to accredit the officials
10 be sent to the Dominican Republic to
observe the recent elections. The notes
also show that, contrary to the repeated
Intimations at the State Department, the
protest of the Dominican government was
based on the official .Iotes, and not on any
Misrepresentation in either the American
or Dominican press. Here are the notes:
Note by Minister Sullivan.
Minister Sullivan TO the minister of for
eign affairs. dated December 3:
I have the honor to inform your
eXcellency as a continuation of our con-
Versation of recent date that the Ameri-
minion government will maintain to the
end, in letter and spirit, the guarantee
which the Dominion government author
ized the American government to Of1cer
in the last unfortunate situation which
existed in this country. 1t is not neces-
sary to repeat to your eXcellency how
deeply the American government is in
terested that there shall be free and i'm
partial elections on December Is, where
members OF the constituent assembly
will be chosen. The promise made by
me to the revolutionists and to which
the Dominican government gave its as
sent are sacred to us not only because
our honor Is involved, but also because
the fulillmeht of them, l believe, with
bring about a new era of peace and
prosperity to this country.
1T is gratifying to me, therefore, TO
inform your eXCellency of the fact that
the American government will name
commission of not more than five men,
bers which will come to this country.
duly accredited. with the object OF ST.
pervisIng reports made to the commits
sion by Am arican agents located IN the
tiles and places where voting places are
established. This commission and its
agents will be simply observers of the
occurrences which develop in relation t1
the election with no other desire than to
i-iiOrm itself as to the results obtained
ny the Dominican government in the car
ryinE out OF its program of real con-
stitutional remedy in behalf OF the
reople, in place of the disastrous method
Of revolution heretofore employed. These
commissioners and agents come to this
country with instructions of absolutely
Tonnterferins, just as they might go to
any other country of the civilized world
to observe the elections in any Of those
countries. Their combined observations
will be transmitted to my government
in order that this government may know
whether III. assurances given to the
reOplc o. this, country in the name Of
PRESIDENT Wilson have been complied
Tilh in proper way
Reviewing the statements contained in
Minister Sullivan. the Dominican minister
ri foreign affairs. on December 6. en-
tered the following protest, in writing, to
the American legation:
Having communicated all this to the
President of the republic. | have re-
ceived instructions from him to answer
your exceIlency. that President Bordas
could not without violating the funda-
mental covenant which governs us admit
officially interference of a foreign ele-
Incnt into our body polite in matters
Of internal concern pertaining to the eX-
ercise of national sovereignty. To pro-
Ceed otherwise would be to violate the
oath which ne mas gwen 10 respect ana
to cause to be respected the constitu-
ton"
1t is expected that within a few days.
with the return of the State Depart
ment officials who headed the group of
American observers, to Washington,
more complete information will be avail
able as to what occurred during the
Dominican elections. The Dominican gov
ernment. following up its protest, an
nounced that the observers would be
treated as tourists and they were not
permitted to enter voting places to see
what went on. Little is known about
the elections thus far, except that on
the second day two factions which had
coaIesced in opposition to the govern
ment. withdrew from further participa-
tion in the voting. The constituent as
sembly chosen is to meet early next
month and proceed with the revision OF
the constitution. The Dominican con-
cress is to be in session at the same
time. It is expected that the objects
sought will not be accomplished without
the good offices of the United States