Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-02
DOM|N|CANS DOUBT
GOOD FAITH Of j. s.
BY HERBERT coREY

States agrees to terminate the mill
tary occupation of Santo Domingo re-
store the Dominican sovereignty I'M
impaired or does it in effect estab-
lish protectorate over Santo Do
| mingo?'
I put this question to DR.. Enriquez
Carbahal duly elected president of
Santo Domingo, and recognized as
such by every American government
save that of the United States.
"Santo Domingo will never be sat
| isfied with anything short of re-
turn to the conditions established by
the agreement of 1907" was the re-
| ply. 1--WE accept the terms of the
proclamation issued by Rear Ad-
miral S. S. Robson as a basis for
further negotiation only. We do not
concede that the United States had
any legal or moral right to inter-
will you be. a candidate for re-
| election as PRESIDENT"
! That is for the people of Santo
Domingo to decide" was the reply,
which may be taken as indicating at
stand as candidate. II shall urge the
| assembly, which under the constitu-
| ton of Santo Domingo has authority
to elect a president in such case
as the present, to name man who
shall be truly a representative of
| all parties, in order to avoid placing
| power in the hands of one faction
only
DR.. Enriquez, it may be stated in
passing, was elected UNANIMOUSLY as
Recognition by the United States
was refused when Enriquez twice re-
| fused to assent to certain demands
made upon him by the officials OF
the military occupation, which In
effect eliminated Dominican author
in the hands of Americans. His
recognition was refused only on this
ground, he asserts. The legality of
his election was never questioned.
Dominicans Will Object
Under the terms of the proclama-
! ton Admiral Robson will appoint
| a committee of Dominican citizens to
negotiate convention Of evacuation;
This we will not agree to-" SAID
Or. Enriquez. The constitution OF
matte appointments shall be made
by and with the advice and consent
of the senate precisely as IN the
| United States. No such condition as
therefore, the Endorsement by .Ad-
miral Robson of such committee
! of plenipotentiaries will not be OBJ
jected to in order that the progress
| of negotiations shall not. be ham
| pered But they must be appointed
tives of our country. Otherwise a
grave infringement of our SOW
ereignty would certainly be ef-
| fected.''
He did not make the statement. in
so many words. but he evidently felt
that if Admiral Robson, represent
ing the military government. the ex-
istence and legality of which has
been strenuously objected to by Santo
Domingo, were to be permitted to
ants a packed jury" might be antici-
pated He likewise indicated that
Dominican sentiment was adverse to
the establishment of an American
military mission with full authority
to create and direct d permanent
native military force.
! I've would not object to such q
mission, provided that it were in
Santo Domingo to aid us to re-estab--
lish and maintain order. But we feel
that this clause continues the pres
ent military occupation under the
cloak of a military mission"
The agreement of 1907. to which
reference has been made, is that
which permits the United States to
supervise the collection of Dominican
customs and the payment of the ma
tional debt, in return for the guar
antee by the United States of that
| Gated, are heartily in favor of this.
| The customs have been ably admin
! 1stered, especially under Receiver
| General Pulliam, and order was re-
i stored to Domonician finances. Dom
inicans desire the maintenance of
this agreement, at least until the debt
has been wiped off.
/ Santo Domingo's Stand
-. But we viii never agree to any
fn6annndanHn rnnnofad
i Then you feel that the proclama-
tion of Admiral Robson, under
which action is to be taken, amounts
in effect to the establishment of
it has been widely stated that free
dom is to be restored" tt Santo Do
mingo Dr.. Enriquez replied that
der the terms of the proclamation
freedom has not been restored" He
| again indicated, however, that he
had hope that with the present agree
ment as a basis for negotiation an
understanding satisfactory TO all may
be worked out. He insists upon his
faith of the people of the United
States.
eve hope always to be on friendly
| terms" he said.
One clause in the agreement pro-
vides that all acts of the military
government shall be ratified without
question. I asked whether this met
| with his approval
GAS this has been explained to me
| at the state department" he said,
this is to cover two points only.
First, the emission of certain loans
needed to complete public works. To
this we have no objection. TO inVali-
| date them would be to throw the
country into confusion The secoDd
is to free the Dominican govern
| ment from any responsibility what
ever for any act of the military gov
eminent
you desire this?"
| Most aSSuredly."
In his belief, a satisfactory under
| standing can be reached upon the
| basis established by the proclamation
| If good faith is manifested on both
| sides. That he doubts the extent to
which that good faith will be mani
tested by the military government
is manifest. Power is vested by
that proclamation in the hands of the
military authorities so to control
elections and pack the committee of
treaty negotiations as to control the
situation absolutely.
I'm that event will the people of
Santo Domingo continue their pres
ent attitude of passive resistance?"
1--WE are helpless was his reply.
1--WE cannot defend ourselves by acts.
But We cannot be forced to consent
to any impairment of our independ-
ence and Sovereignty
1t seems to be up to the soldiers.