American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-12-28
sANTO DOMINGO ON OUR HANDS.

SANTO DOMINGO ON OUR HANDS.
Things have gone from bad to worse since mn ;ntor
vent1on IN Santo Domingo, observes the New York Even
ing foSt, IN noting the proclamation of military govern
ment In that island by Capt. H. S. Knapp, at %. m. on No
Vemoer ~ And this journal expresses the hope that con.
gfeSs Will mold the executive to a strict accountability
ana chat a congressional committee will be appointed to
look INTO both the Haitian and Dominican situations, So
lnat an the facts may be laid not only before congress-
but before the people," While some journals reluctantly
admit the necessity for the administrations act and some
nave no hesitancy in approving it, The Evening Post and
oIher gaines clam that we are doing in Santo Domingo
what the president said we would not do in Mexico-"in-
tervening by force"
Our interference is traced back by the New York Sun
to the agreement of 1905 between the United States pov-
eminent and the Dominican republic when this country
undertook to adjust controversies arising from the for
elgn debts OF the smaller state" Our financial admins
trat1on deprived the European bondholders of anv excuse
Tor action by their governments that might infringe the
Monroe Doctrine, and also stabilized the island govern
ment by preventing so-called revolutions" that were
really armed raids on the treasury. Moreover, saws The
Sun:
Inquiry showed that certain claims against the Santo
dominican treasury, amounting to SIC, 600, were JUS
tined, and 1T was proved that under honest administration
the revenues, practically all of which come from the Gus
toms; were sufficient 70 meet the interest on and provide
for the amortization of all legitimate claims. In 1908 a
new constitution was adopted, under which Caceres was
elected president. He was assassinated three years later,
and since then the country has been almost continuously
IN a state of unrest, which has produced frequent upris-
mgs, In a number of cases reaching the dignity of revolu-
tlon." In this connection the Chicago Journal notes that
IN one of the inland Dominican towns a clash between the
natives and our marines took place on Thanksgiving day,
in which eleven Americans were wounded and an equal
number of Dominicans killed. The navy departments an
nouncement of the proclamation is recorded in the press
as follows:
Capt. H. S. Knapp, in command of the United States
forces IN Santo Domingo, reports that in compliance with
instructions received, military government was proclaim
ed by him in Santo Domingo, 4 p. m. November 20.
AN order regarding carrying arms or having them in
possession has been put in effect. Payment of Salaries of
government officials will be resumed Immediately.
The proclamation was well received. Conditions are
rpnOrtnH a G hpInu normal onI HI rroo+ no;oxA e IL l.
people regard the proclamation with favor"
A Washington dispatch to the Springfield Republican
informs us that 300 American marines will maintain or
der for the present, and until elections are held in January
their officers will supervise the conduct of the government
by native officials, and disburse the customs revenues
which American receivers have been collecting by treaty
arrangement for nine years. Further
1.-The necessity for a drastic step has been considered
since the overthrow several months ago of President Jim
lnez by General Arias, a strongly anti-American revolu-
zionist. With Arias in control, the Dominican assembly
elected FREDERICK Enriquez president, but the United
States refused to recognize the new government and with
held the balance of customs revenues left after the repu-
lar payments of interest on the foreign debt. Consequent
ly the native officials and employees will draw their first
pay since the downfall of Jiminez when the American Of
fcers begin to disburse some $780, 900 Of accumulated ex-
port duties"
The failure of the native officials and employees to re-
ceive pay, of course, caused no little distress and dissatis-
faction, as is evidenced in a private letter from Santo Do
mingo, written to a reader of The Literary Digest. 1t is
translated from the Spanish, bears the date of October 27, 5
1916-a month before the proclamation-and reads in part
as follows:
"For three months the Americans have not paid the {
teachers nor the government employees, in accordance with l
the budget of the country. You can form an idea of a r
country where not more than about two million pesos cir S
culate and they keep back a million and a half. How can
we keep on living? There is no business, trade falls off, r
and our lives are menaced by hunger. Can not you Amer, e
leans, who have a good conscience, say something in the u
press of your country? Bring it to the attention of Pres
ident Wilson that this is a noble people and not a country e
of savages, as they believe over there. | am suffering
horribly for the fate of my country when | see the misery
that makes such ravages among the poorer classes