File No. 839.00/991.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Santo Domingo, December 7, 1913.
An imposing demonstration favoring the commission will be held this afternoon. Negotiations up to date have created a strong pro-American sentiment among the people and the country is for the first time enjoying a considerable measure of freedom of speech and of the press. All this is believed to be due to a better understanding of President Wilson’s attitude, explained in the Mobile speech, which we had published here in full.
The Dominican Government’s attempt to create hostility to the commission is therefore meeting with failure. A demonstration for this purpose was to have occurred yesterday but has been postponed until the Government can obtain mercenary attendants. The Government is misrepresenting our attitude by using the words “supervision,” “intervention,” “control.”
In view of the misrepresentation by the Government, may I publish the open telegrams from the Department?