Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-26
SULLIVAN QUIT
TO AVOID RECALL
Minister to Santo Domingo
Found to Be incompetent
by Senator PheIan.
SECRETARY LANSING
MAKES REPORT PUBLIC
Shows Too Close Atfiiation With
Contractors Who Used Their In.
fuence to Get Him Position.

| Secretary Lansing today made public
the report of Senator-elect James D.
Phelan of California of his investiga-
ton Of the charges against James M.
! Sullivan, United States minister to
| Domingo. which resulted in the en-
| forced resignation Of the latter The
i findings and opinion of Mr.. Phelan are
summarized as follows:
| "First-In consideration Of the spirit
| that animated the republic of Santo
Domingo in seeking the aid of the
| United States of America, which Gull
minated in the convention Of 1907, the
| government Of the United States has
| undertaken a great trust for the bene-
| AT Of the Dominican republic. which
must be discharged with .scrupulous
fidelity.
1.-The relations between the two re-
publics that have grown out of the con
| ventfon and the executive order in pur-
suance thereof, and American control
| over Dominican public works, have re-
United States minister to Santo Do
ningo of duties and responsibilities
that are unusual and even unique in
| the diplomatic service of the United
| should, therefore. possess superior at
tainments of a specialized nature.
Calls Sullivan Incompetent.
Second. Tested by ordinary stand
ards there could scarcely have been
any general expectation that the
training, education and experience of
James NJ. Sullivan would have re-
suited in his acquiring these attainments,
not only desirable but probably neces-
sary for a successful administration.
Whatever may have been the reason
able expectations at the time Of his
appointment on the basis of what wal
then known Of his earlier career, it is
now clearly apparent that he did not
possess the qualities that might fairly
have been required OF a candidate for
| to Santo Domingo. go.
| Third. The candidate was vigorously
supported by persons having large
financial interests in santo Domingo
with the intention and in the hope OF
securing pecuniary profit through the
incumbency in once of a minister who
this support, and the object thereof
were concealed from the appointing
power.
Contractors Graft.
Fourth. There IL no evidence that
Minister Sullivan received any money
from any contractor or other person
desiring 1aVOrs IN SanlO domingo OF
that he participated in any way in what
has come to be known as graft" but
there is evidence that q proposal wa,
made to a New York contractor to pay
money to a representative Of some Of
the interests that had supported Mr.
Sullivan, in order that the contractor
might secure favorable contracts ir
Santo Domingo: that as a part of tht
proposal the statement was made thai
the interests had procured Mr.. Sulli'
vans appointment and could influence
him: that letter Of introduction to Mr.
Sullivan was given to the contractor b.
those making the proposal; that tn
contractor proceeded to Santo Domingo
was entertained by Mr.. Sullivan, VIII
assured him of the reliability OF th'
introducer. and that thereupon the con
tractor returned to New York and pais
over the money. There 10 no evidence
that at the time the contractor was II
Santo Domingo Mr.. Sullivan knew any
such payment was under consideration
Lost Peoples Confidence.
; Fifth. BY reason Of his conduct In Of.
nee, in such matters. among others, a
his relations with the Banco Nadonal
his attitude Of hostility toward oths,
banking houses; his methods In deal'
!. A. - AwAA y