The Washington herald., 1913-09-19
DRASTIC STEPS
TOSTOP REVOLT
Dominican Rebels Told They
VIII Not Be Recognized,
If Successful.
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTS
United States Also Will Refuse to Turn
Over Customs Proceeds, Of
Which II Is Receiver.

1
stick" and other forms of diplomacy
exercised by the United States in its
efforts to maintain peace in the tur-
bulent republics OF Latin America have
all been outdone by the present ad-
ministration under the Democratic
party, which has vigorously attacked
the milder policies OF previous admin
istrations as too radical and high
handed. This was revealed yesterday
when the action of the State Depart
ment with reference to the revolution
in the Dominican Republic was. learned.
The administration determined to dis
| courage the Dominican revolution to
| the utmost OF its power, and in so doing
| laid down two new and radical exten-
sions of previous policy in Latin
America The rebels in Santo Domingo
were notified first, that II they succeed
| in overturning the Bordas government in
| that country they will not receive the
recognition OF the United States. This
| important declaration was followed by
| one even more significant and drastic, to
the effect that if the rebels succeed in
| gaining control OF the government the
| United States will not only refuse to
recognize them as a government, but
will decline to turn over to them the
! proceeds OF the Dominican customs
! houses, Of which the United States is
the receiver. under the convention OF
1907.
Has Had Good Eject.
/ This stern and repressiye policy upon
the part of the United States, backed up
by two such vigorous threats as the dec
larations enumerated above, has already
had its effect Fighting in Sznto Do
mingo has practically ceased, and the
rebels are making no attempt TO extend
their control Of territory. II is conf
IDENTIFY believed that as soon as the
meaning of the announcements Of the
| United States have sunk into the minds
OF the rebel leaders, and they are thor
oughly convinced that the State Depart
ment will make good on its declarations,
| IL the issue is forced, the Dominican
revolution will disappear.
So great is the confidence felt in the
success of this plan, by virtue OF its
intense practicability, that officials here
| familiar with Latin-American troubles
go so far as to venture the prediction
! that the days OF revolutions in Central
America and the West Indies are nearly
over. While the United States has not
the same control over the finances Of
other Latin-American countries il has
! over those OF the Dominican Republic,
IL is believed that the Washington ad-
ministration which can so readily bring
into play the means available for keep
ing peace in Santo Domingo will find a
method OF maintaining order in other
revolution-ridden countries.
Greed at Root of Revolt.
Information laid before President Will
son by State Department officials con-
vinceu him that the revolution in Santo
Domingo was purely one of greed upon
the part Of a small group OF malcontents,
and that the rebellion against the Bordas
government was not established on any
principle other than that OF a desire for
office and the proceeds thereof. COnse-
quently, it was determined almost at the
outset that everything should be done to
discourage the revolutionists. They were
at once informed of the disfavor with
which the Washington government
viewed their attempt to bring on another
political upheavaL This declaration Of
disapproval was soon followed by the
double threat Of nOnrecognition and with
holding funds in case the rebels should
succeed by force in gaining control OF
the government authority.
Minister Sullivan, recently appointed
Minister to Santo Domingo. has arrived
at Puerto Plata, the stronghold of the
revolutionists, and is reiterating TO the
rebel leaders the determined position of
President Wilson. He is backed I'D by
the gunboat Des Moines. 1t is expected
that as soon as the rebel leaders are con-
vinced that the United States government
means what 1t says in the message con-
veyed through MIR. Sullivan the revolu-
tionary forces will dwindle away. 1t is
quite possible that some sort of a COM
promise will be made peacefully between
the government and the revolutionists
who include in their number officials of
the province of Puerto Plata.
Collects Customs Dues
The convention of 1907 provides that the
United States shall collect the customs
dues OF the Dominican Republic and ap-
ply them to the payment of the bonds by
which the republic was brought out OIL
bankruptcy. The receiver general of Do
minican customs, Walter Z. Wick, was
appointed by President Wilson under
authority granted him in the convention. |
and he has absolute control over all |
funds so received. 1t is the practice for
him to remit to the New York banking
house acting as Dominican fiscal agent
the entire sum received each month, \
minus the expenses OF the receivershfp
Out OF this sum there Is remitted to the |
Dominican government all that is left !
after providing for the monthly interest
and additions to the sinking fund. From
this procedure there is absolutely no es-
cape by the rebels, so that they face ab-
Solute bankruptcy from the start in casa