File No. 839.00/1731
Chargé Johnson to the
Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
No. 189.]
American Legation,
Santo Domingo,
July 22, 1915.
Sir: Referring to your cable dated July 16, 4
p.m., and to my reply dated July 22, 5 p.m., in reference to the
disorders that have
[Page 290]
occurred
and the efforts of the Government to suppress them, I have the honor to
inclose herein copy of the open letter I telegraphed to Horacio Vásquez
at Moca, to all the American Consuls and Consular Agents in this
country, and which I gave to the press.
I also inclose copy of a note I directed to the Foreign Office under
to-day’s date, embodying the protest I was instructed to make in
reference to diversion of funds. I ventured to embody in this note
portions also of the instructions contained in your January 12, 8 p.m.
and April 20, 2 p.m., which had not previously been conveyed in writing
and which I considered had an intimate connection with the protest
against the diversion of funds to put down the disorders. Of course even
without directly calling attention to the desire of the United States to
itself suppress disorders which would otherwise require extra-legal
expenditures by the Dominican Government, the remedy of that Government,
in the face of our protest, should be obvious to them. * * *
The protest against the diversion of funds should have a good effect in
another direction in that, if the Government, as a great many
well-informed people believe, because of the extraordinary opportunities
for graft in the largely increased expenditures of money for rations and
supplies, presented by disturbances in scattered portions of the
country, has encouraged, or provoked the outbreaks by arrests and
threatened arrests, to escape which many join outlaw bands, that
Government will now, in view of the protest by the United States,
hesitate to continue in its course and take measures to see that
officials in the provinces, who among others would profit by it, are
also restrained.
The Jiménes Government since the return of the commission from Washington
appears to be in a somewhat more yielding mood than heretofore and the
present time, in view of the concessions obtained by the Government from
Washington, would appear to be a good time to urge reforms, in case
intervention shall not prove to be necessary during the present
disturbances.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
Chargé Johnson to
Horacio Vásquez and to the
leaders of the opposition.
American Legation,
Santo Domingo, [not
dated.]
As you are aware, under the Wilson Plan the United States has pledged
its word to the world as the nearest friend of the Dominican
Republic to support the Government elected by the people and to
insist that revolutionary movements cease and that all subsequent
changes in the Government of the Republic be effected by the
peaceful processes provided in the Dominican Constitution.
President Jiménes having last October been chosen President by the
people under the Wilson Plan, he will receive from the United States
any assistance’ necessary to compel respect for his
administration.
The United States is greatly distressed at the spread of the present
disorders which may now require that Government to fulfill the
assurances given to the world and to the Dominican people; and I
have been instructed by the United States Government to call to the
attention of the leaders of the opposition not only the foregoing,
but also that, in the event of the necessary landing of troops to
enforce order and respect for the choice of the people as President,
those leaders who are or may be actually engaged in, or are secretly
encouraging the disorders will be held personally responsible by the
United States.
[Page 291]
You as the leader of a great party can do much for your country by
continuing to stand firm and to act upon your announced opposition
to revolution and by so advising your associates.
[Inclosure 2.]
Chargé Johnson to
the Secretary for Foreign
Relations.
No. 167.]
American Legation,
Santo Domingo,
July 22, 1915.
Excellency: Confirming the representations
I had the honor to make verbally to your excellency and to the
President in our interview of the 19th inst., in compliance with
instructions from my Government received by telegram on that day, I
desire now, in writing, to again protest strongly against any
diversion of funds under the law, whether already made or about to
be made by your excellency’s Government, that is to say, by spending
in excess of the amount provided by law for the expenses of the
Executive, or of the Departments of Interior and of War and Navy,
and by drawing for the excess upon the amounts provided by law for
other departments, as being an increase of the public debt in
violation of the Convention of 1907.
The Department of State of the United States will be very slow to
accept political conditions as reasons for future advances to cover
these diversions.
I am also instructed to point out that the American Government has
given every evidence of its interest in the Dominican Republic’s
orderly development and of its willingness to assist the present
Government by advice, by concessions made to it and by advances of
funds before they were strictly due; and this Legation has also
indicated under previous instructions received by it that President
Jiménes may count on the full support of the United States
Government in putting down any revolution brought against his
Government and that as long as the American Government must furnish
aid it would be better to save the Dominican Government needless
expense by giving to it the assistance of all necessary forces to
put down any revolution or any conspiracy aimed at impeding the
orderly administration of that Government.
I avail [etc.]
