File No. 839.00/1070.
Minister Sullivan to the Secretary of State.
Santo Domingo, February 21, 1914, 3 p.m.
Your February 19, 1 p.m. In two hour interview with Bordas today he declared that his attitude toward Arias could not be decided by him but must be determined by you. He could conceive of no more patriotic service than to wipe out the brigand and his followers, but that such an undertaking was too serious to attempt without the moral support and material assistance of American Government. Arias offers himself to presidential candidate willing to accept his terms. These are absolute domination and a free hand at looting and smuggling. Arias reluctantly persuaded that he cannot get presidency. President Bordas is sending commission next week to temporize with Arias hoping to avert revolution. Men going realize the danger and bid good bye to [?]. Bordas deplores this temporizing policy and says the man is growing [?] eating the heart of the country, making decent government impossible. His position as delegate of the North is not constitutional and is outside of the budget. Though soldiers under his control belong to and are paid by Government, Bordas has been gradually interfering with Arias’ ascendancy over these men so that Arias cannot by himself muster more than one thousand men. Dangerous element in the situation is that the Zamor brothers now govern Haiti, and they are willing to furnish Arias with munitions of war in return for favors rendered by Arias and Vidal in the recent Haitian revolution. Bordas found Arias appointed delegate to the North and to pacify him did not remove him but accepted his assistance in the recent revolution. This gave Arias opportunity to secure control of large supplies of arms and ammunition. Bordas says that revolution is inevitable and the time when it will take place will be named by Arias unless he is permitted to subvert Government to his personal desires unless Bordas proclaims him in his true color an outlaw. Bordas believes that the trouble should be faced at once by removing Arias and apprehending him. This will mean loss of life and a struggle but it is his idea not to dignify said trouble with name of revolution. Dominican Government believes that this aggressive course would drive Arias to the bush in a week. He could continue guerrilla warfare for some time but his hold which he now has upon functions of Government would be instantly broken and then Constitutional Convention would put your reforms into effect. Bordas says that you must decide upon Dominican Government’s attitude in this matter—whether Arias should be placated or proclaimed. If proclaimed, provision for campaign against him must be made; if placated, President Bordas asks that the Petrel carry his commission to Puerto Plata to deter Arias from inflicting violence to their [Page 211] persons. He asks me to say that he hoped you would appreciate the crucial character of the situation and determine at once upon such advice as you deem best.