Evening star., 1921-01-23
BY BEN McKELwAY.
RESOLUTION introduced by
Senator Hiram Johnson is now
before the foreign relations


A RESOLUTION introduced by
1 ~ Senator Hiram Johnson is now
| before the foreign relations
committee of the Senate which
would empower.that committee to in
lvestigate the part taken by civilians
and the military forces of the United
States in the government OF Santo
Domingo and Haiti. A.review OF such
participation, taken from recent re-
ports on the subject, is interesting.
In 1907 treaty was concluded be-
tween the United States and Santo
Domingo which permitted the United
States to supervise the collection OF
customs revenues of the Dominican
republic, in order to guarantee the
payment Of the interest and amorti-
cation of the republics national
debt. Improvement in the repub-
llics affairs were noted until
series of revolutionary movements led
the government to increase the public
debt without authority of the United
States. thereby violating the treaty.
1.-The United States therefore sought
tinued supervision Of revenue collec-
tions. the appointment Of a financial
ladviser for the Dominican republic
land supervision by the United States
lof the Dominican constabulary. Santo
domingo refused to sign this treaty.
About this time civil war began in
Santo Domingo and the United States
landed naval forces to prevent fur
lther bloodshed. DR.. HenriqueZ Car
Ivajal was elected provisional presi-
dent. but the United States refused to
recognize his government until he
lagreed to the provisions of the pro-
iposed treaty of 1915. He refused. and
,the United States declined to pay to
his government the revenues collected
under the treaty of 1907.
This condition continued until the
limited States directed the naval OFF,
Ger in charge of the naval forces in
dominican waters to assume direction
of affairs, and in 1916 temporary
military government was proclaimed
At that time there were $4,000 chill
jdren attending school in Santo Do
mingo. Now there are 100000 pupils.
land the gross revenues of the repub-
lie have increased from about $4,000
600 to more than $7.o00,e60.
The United States has begun steps
toward a withdrawal Of its forces in
lSanto Domingo and the appointment
tof a governing commission of Do
iminicans. the ultimate respN nf Ehich
will bas the ztsstoration Of sseif-Eov-
ternment in SaAfo Domingo. =, /
Although the government. Of Haiti
is directly under Haitians,s the United
States has maintained, a. military
force there to insure order since, July
t2s, 1916: For the first time, in more
than a century tranquility .and. Sc
curity of life and property exist in
Haiti. The Haitian people, them
selves are said to be Unwilling for
this force of occupation to be with
drawn. although there are forces at
work to bring it about. :, The United
Estates is said to be ready to With
draw from Haiti entirely, however,
when conditions there warrant such
action.
II X X
! Bids for Panamas extensive road
building program will be opened in
Panama City February 1s. the lega-
tion here has announced. The work
will extend over a period of four or
Ave years, the total cost of which
is estimated at approximately ST.
0O0, 900. of which $1,500,000 already
is available in the Panama treasury.
A copy of the specifications which
has been received in Washington
shows that Panama will use the state
of Illinois as its model in road con-
struction and bridge building.
Panama.s plan is to have the roads
link with and form part of COM
prehensive system which will connect
with roads of the Canal Zone. Gov
ernment officials here have been con-
suited in connection with the whole
scheme and given their approval.
| x 4 K y
American sculptors have been asked