File No. 839.00/973.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Santo Domingo, November 22, 1913.
Captain Nulton of the Nashville, Mr. Smith, Secretary of the Legation, and I, after mature deliberation have decided to recommend [Page 436] a non-interfering scrutiny by open agents appointed by the Department at the principal towns and polling-places, upon whose joint report the Department will decide as to the validity of the constitutional election, the Dominican Government to be informed of our purpose with the assurance from us that unless the election of December 15 expresses the will of the people as a whole the American Government will take full control of the presidential election that follows. The American agents should be at their posts not later than December 10. If this plan is acceptable to the Department the Legation will furnish list of polling-places.