File No. 839.00/1687.
[Untitled]
Santo Domingo, April 18, 1915—11 p.m.
Dominican Government advises that the Horacista party is secretly preparing to start a revolution immediately. The pretext will be a failure of Dominican Government to keep its pledges to hold a constitutional convention for reforms. Dominican Government requests immediate advance $30,000 for preparations. Dominican Government anxious to suppress expected revolution themselves without calling for open assistance of the United States until assistance is absolutely necessary. Munitions of war should be purchased and money expended under observation of the United States. I believe the Department should take positive action at the outset of any actual break to convince revolutionists American Government will itself suppress revolts. Opposition do not believe American Government will interfere notwithstanding all assertions by us. This crisis has solidified Dominican Cabinet for the present.