File No. 839.00/1105.
The Secretary of State to Minister Sullivan.
Washington, March 23, 1914, 8 p.m.
Your March 22, 2 p.m. Department desires to he informed as to manner of removal of Governors, whether much or little opposition resulted, names of Governors removed and their successors. Can authority of new Governors be maintained by Bordas and can he cope with any revolution which may result from removal of Governors?
When Department suggested plan of financing Santo Domingo to extent of $1,600,000 its object was to obtain constitutional amendments, congressional reforms and to enable Santo Domingo to liquidate past due obligations under the practical supervision of a controller so that through this official that Republic should undertake the reform of her whole financial dilemma.
Pending Bordas efforts to accomplish the above Department was induced to consider how some $500,000 might be supplied to repay back salaries, this to facilitate Bordas endeavors to effect reforms. Finally just before Bordas interview with Arias and so he need not submit to latter’s usual ruinous demands you were instructed to assure Bordas the Department would aid in every proper way to arrange funds with which to repay back salaries.
You have spoken against revolutionary and in favor of constitutional methods and free and fair elections. Since interview with Arias failed, resulting in removal of Governors under his control and in his uniting with opposing factions against President and in view of fact that elections have been called for on such very short notice, do you consider Department lays itself open to criticism by putting funds into Bordas hands so same may be used just prior to or during elections?
Department hesitates to provide funds to be hastily paid out prior to election. Have back salaries been discounted to any large amount to banks or money lenders if so would it not seem that by providing such a large sum as requested these parties would be more benefited than government employees? If you consider it expedient, proper and necessary that an amount be advanced to the Government of Santo Domingo and if it is decided to advance same Department would insist that funds be dispensed only through a temporary controller who will be replaced by permanent controller who shall in advance sign contract for no less than three years, his attention to be exclusively devoted to institute desired financial reforms.
Report as to whether banks in the Republic have sufficient actual cash to be transferred to the Government on telegraphic order if through negotiation of bonds the equivalent should be available in New York.