File No. 839.00/1390.
The Minister of the Dominican Republic to the Secretary of State.
Washington, July 8, 1914.
Mr. Secretary: Complying with instructions which I have received from my Government, I herewith file a protest of imperative opposition to the unusual action which has just taken place in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and of which the Commander of the Naval forces of North America now in that port is the author, in directing the guns of the warship Machias upon the camp of the Government forces besieging the rebel town of Puerto Plata.
But before proceeding with the protest, permit me, Mr. Secretary, to relate the causes of the incidents which culminated in the deplorable affair of the 26th of June last.
On the 17th of that month, Commander Russell, of the cruiser South Carolina notified the Commander of the Dominican gunboat Independencia that firing by the latter upon the city of Puerto Plata, or upon the fortress, or upon any point comprised within the city limits would be answered by the forces under his command; and on the same day Commander Russell communicated to the chief of operations of the besieging troops before that stronghold that the beginning of a bombardment would entail the useless and unnecessary destruction of the gunboats of the Dominicans, Independencia and Jacagua, as well as endanger the lives of the forces who employed artillery.
On the same day, the said Commander Russell made identic notification to the President of the Republic, General José Bordas Valdes, adding that if in spite of such warning the latter persisted in his purpose of bombarding the stronghold of Puerto Plata, this bombardment could not begin without giving to the inhabitants of the city a period of not less than 24 hours, after a notification signed by him personally, in order that they might place themselves out of danger.
Finally, in the evening of the 26th of June, last, President Bordas began the bombardment of the fortified positions of the revolutionists, taking care to amply satisfy humanitarian sentiments in the critical stress of the moment.
It was then that through order of Commander Russell, the North American warship Machias opened fire with its batteries upon the camp of the Government forces.
This unnecessary and obstructive outrage on the part of Commander Russell, which finds no justification in the principles of the law of nations nor in the remotest degree in the precise regulations of the Dominican-American Convention of 1907, is in contradiction to the goodly program in which President Wilson has announced to the world his policy of respect and rapprochement towards the Latin American Republics, possibly further entailing as an immediate consequence—which the Dominican Government would deeply lament—the arousing in our people sentiments of distrust and [Page 245] antagonism which would impede the success of the well-intentioned policy initiated By President Wilson.
Therefore, Mr. Secretary, I wish to state in an unequivocal manner that I protest formally against the attack which the arms of your nation have just made in disregard of the respect due to the sovereignty of a friendly State, as is that of the Dominican Republic.
And inasmuch as this attack constitutes a grave offense implied to that nation, my Government has given me instructions to request of you, Mr. Secretary, that the North American warships anchored in the Dominican waters of Puerto Plata and which effected this action be replaced by others, since the presence of these ships may cause an ill effect among the Dominican people which my Government desires to avoid at all hazards.
I avail [etc.]