Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-16
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
BY FREDEkIo =. HAsKIN.

VIZ AsHINGToN. D. c.. June 1.-THE restless Do
M mincan Repdblic boiling again, and
" internal affairs have reached a pass where the
United been forced to take active hand
Our landed there has been guerilla fight
ing with American loss, revolutionary bands have
by forces and the crafty native polit-
clan is shriekng for his countrymen to rise against
American Intervention. This rich little country mas
proved fruitful of and annoyance to the
United the past and will evidently continue
to do so for some time in the future. -. .. >,
There apparently special significance to be
attached to the situation. 'our marines will
be Withdrawn matters have more quiet
ed down and the old status has been restored under
a Dominican president But we will still be in
a position responsibility the peace and order of
the nation Under the terms of recent treaty, Uncle
Sam holds purse strings of the republic and is
responsible for the of it's debts. An Ameri-
collects it is largely due
to American and efficiency that there
customs collect.
Our present position in the Dominican republic
dates back 1905, but it's drawn up and
formally ratified in the document under which enjoy
doubtful privileges and attendant duties,
known the American Dominican Convention of 1907.
The gst of this convention is that the customs of the
republic are put in American hands, part
ant go toward the payment of interest
the national bonds and the establishment of sinking
fund for their eventual payment the remainder to be
turned to the Dominican government for running
expenses. One little fact in this connection casts
significant light the past troubles of the Dominican
republic In the first month of American customs adj
minstration, half of moneys collected
turned to the government. And that half
a larger sum than the entire revenue which had been
collected for similar periods under the old regime.
Like the rest of our responsibilities south
ward, the Dominican problem forced upon The
Dominican republic has been notable for the frequency
its revolutions among the little countries of
its neighborhood almost all of which prolific in
this respect of republics history
long record of internal dissension. In 1882
negro named Ulises Heureaux power. who
enforced the doctrine of the iron fist Dominican Diaz
There plenty of trouble in his long admnistra-
ton but he held the rens until 1899. With his
sassination revolution followed revolution.
porary dictator pledged the of the state to
borrow money The credit of the republic fell rapidly
After six of this the little country owed
than sSO.oOO,OOO.
Much of this was owed to four great European pow
ers. The Dominican republic occupies two-thrds Of
the island Haiti probably richest after Porto
Rico, of the West Indian group. The European pow
concerned showed themselves by means
willing take of their interests by taking charge
of the republics affairs. They had agreed among
themselves the division they would make of the
ports. Most important of these is SANTANA,
bay.
SANTANA bay is of the most perfect harbors
in world. capable of accommodating half a dozen
battle fleets and easily fortified. 1t commands the
Mona passage, which is the direct from Europe
to the Panama canal AS possible naval base is
Importance. Influenced by consideration
we'll by the Monroe Doctrine, United States
took the only step possible under the circumstances
and stepped in. We guaranteed the debt in turn
TOOK over tne customs Many or the bonds had been
issued at heavy discount, owing the poor credit
the republic, that by United States
credit the actual Indebtedness scaled $4,000
600.
The who took the customs administration
faced one of the most difficult and dangerous little
tasks record The of the situation lay along
the Haiten frontier. The Dominican republic had
only land boundry. separating it from Haiti
Between the two republics is chronic feeling, and
the location of the .boundry holly disputed. 1t
runs through one hundred and fifty miles of noun
famous country wild and uncivlized any to be
found on earth today All along the line smugglers
operated freely, they had been operating CEN
turtles bringing goods across from Haiti. There
in putting American collectors the Dominican
ports as long as the Haitien frontier open.
To patrol that frontier regarded a task