New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17
SAYS BRYAN HID
CASE AGAINST
J. NJ. SULLIVAN
Witness Declares SeCre-
tary Didn't Use Facts in
Dominican Scandal.
TOLD HIM ALL"
SAYS J. l.. BYRNE

Engineer Testifes About
Diplomats "Bit"-Blames
Him for Revolt.
". j. Bryan. Secretary Of State, was
not disposed to let any of the circum-
stances Of the Dominican diplomatic
scandal creep into the records of the
State Department, according to the tes-
timony Of James L. Byrne, a construc-
tion engineer, of Boston, who was a
witness yesterday before Commissioner
Phelan on the charges made against
James Mark Sullivan, American Minis
ter to Santo Domingo.
The witness declared that when Sec
retary Bryan found that he was willing
to make an affidavit OF all the informa-
tion he had in regard to Dominican
affairs under the regime OF Minister
Sullivan, Mr.. Bryan said it would not
be necessary.
The Boston engineer described an
interview with Secretary Bryan, at the
State Department at Washington, in
April. 1914, during which he presented
in detail to Mr.. Bryan the story told
him by Timothy j. Sullivan, cousin of
the minister, relative to a scheme to
exploit the island.
Told All TO Bryan.
Among other things, the ministers
cousin had told him that he had come
to Santo Domingo at the request of the
minister to take charge OF a large
amount of government contracts and
improvements, and to see that Jim got
his Bit" the witness said.
81 told Mr.. Bryan all the facts said
the engineer, "and when had finished
he looked at me keenly and said;
al wish you would write. out for me
all you have said, and sign it, and
without taking his eyes off me he add
ed, 'or perhaps you would not care to
do that
put everything | had said in the form
Of an affidavit, and then Mr.. Bryan
. finally said. Well, don't believe that
will be necessary"
At the opening OF yesterdays, hear
ing. Commissioner Phelan was much
surprised 20 receive a telegram from
the State Department, which he inter
preted as stating that Minister Sulli-
van was on his way from Santo Domin-
90 TO New York. The commissioner
Immediately called up Secretary Bryan
on the long distance telephone. and the
Secretary told him that he had not
been informed that Minister Sullivan
was coming to New York and had re-
ceived no request from him for leave
of absence from his post.
81 guess Secretary Bryan was sur
prised, too" remarked the commission
er. "for he apparently had the hic-
coughs"
Upon more careful perusal of the
State Department communication, II
was discovered that il referred 20 GER
tain documents and papers which Min
ister Sullivan was forwarding TO COM
missioner Phelan through the State De-
partment relative TO his defence. Sec
retarv BRYAN was forthwith Informed
of the discovery.
The Boston witness. Byrne, was ex-
amined by Charles II. Strong. counsel
10 the commissioner, on an affidavit he
had made Incorporating all he had told
Mr.. Bryan. He said he first met limo
thy ]. Sullivan several years ago at
Democratic convention in Springfield,
Mass, where Sullivan lived.
Accuses Sullivans.
Sullivan went to Santo Domingo IN
October, 1918, and for some time he
and his family stopped at Byrne's house
in Puerto Plata. Sullivan became very
friendly. and told him freely OF ms
plans. The witness said he did not ike
TO be placed in the position OF betray-
ing the confidence Of friend, but that
he felt il was his duty as citizen 10
inform the State Department OF wnat
Sullivan had told him.
In answer to questions by Commis-
sioner Phelan, the witness said he con
sidered Timothy j. Sullivan Dig
hole-hearted. witty lrishman,' VINO
had been led astray by his cousin, the
minister. II
,bese IDEAS into Tins head" said the
witness. that Santo Domingo would
be an easy prey for exploitation. The
scheme 10 grab all the government con
tracts which the Banco Naclonal crowd
had working through sullivan, falled
because of aroused public opinion
amonp both the Americans and Do
n,inicans. Tim talked too much and
let the cat out Of the bag"
Competition was TO be eliminated by
the refusal of the American Minister
20 give his approval for the expendl-
ne of any money for Dominican pub
lie improvements unless this contractor
cot the work. Cousin Tim also told
Rim said the witness. OF $1,000 note
wbich he had obtained from the banco
Nacional. indorsed By Cousin jim,
which the American Minister would
never have 70 pay, as IL was 70 De
eventually a part Of his lthe minis
ter'sl rake-oh.
Mr. Bryne told the commissioner that
bo believed Minister Sullivan was in
strumental in promulgating the revo-
Irtion in Santo Domingo IN 1914, and
that ne benefited financially from II.
The witness said that upon SulIlyan's
arrival in the island he declared an
ayristice. and told the generals on
both sides that II they broke II the
American government would hold them
strictly responsible.
THAT looks like an effective move
on the ministers part Mr.. Strong
suggested.
"Yes. II was good move" said
Byrne. "but il was only bluff. and
the minister fell down. ! will say this
in Justice 20 him, however, that he
might have been acting under instruc-
tions from Washington"