File No. 738.3915/30.

The American Consul to the Secretary of State.

No. 21.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that on December 27 it was generally reported in Puerto Plata that there was fighting on the frontier. A telegram was received at this office from Consular Agent Petit, at Monte Cristi, stating that it was reported that there was a concentration of Haitian forces at Fort Liberté, on the northern [Page 152] frontier. On the afternoon of the.28th, advice was received that the two Governments were trying to settle amicably their differences. Everything remained quiet until the afternoon of the 29th, when a telegram was received stating that Sr. Cabral, secretary for foreign affairs, said that it was impossible for the Haitian and Dominican Governments to come to an agreement. The city of Puerto Plata is now very much agitated.

The trouble between the two Governments is over a disputed boundary line.

In July [1910] the Dominican Government began to build a road on the boundary line for the purpose of facilitating traffic and to prevent smuggling. The work was carried on without molestation until December 14, when the chief of Grand Gosier requested of the engineer that the works be suspended, as Haitian territory was being encroached upon. The engineer in charge replied that he could not suspend work without orders from the Dominican Government.

On December 24 a Haitian steamer arrived at Anses a Pitre with 50 men and 500 guns, and later on the governor of Saltrou arrived at the head of additional troops.

The Dominican Government on December 26 sent troops by the American steamship Cherokee and the Dominican gunboat Independence to Pedernales to defend the frontier, and at the same time cabled to the minister at Port-au-Prince that Haiti’s action was understood as a threat, and requested the retirement of the Haitian troops.

I have, etc.,

Philip E. Holland.