File No. 839.00/1737.
Chargé Johnson to the
Secretary of State.
No. 193.]
American Legation,
Santo Domingo,
July 30, 1915.
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 189, dated
July 22, 1915, I have the honor to enclose herein copy and translation
of a telegram from Horacio Vásquez, leader of the Horacista party, in
reply to my telegram to him, copy of which I enclosed in the despatch.
It will be seen that he practically admits the right of revolution for
violation of the law by the Government and infringement of personal
rights, neither of which things were clone by this Government until
after the disorders started and an incipient revolution had to be dealt
with.
I also enclose copy and translation of the reply to my note of protest
against the diversion of funds, copy of which I enclosed in the despatch
referred to above. I have reason to believe that the note was written
for internal political purposes alone as the President has never
dissented from verbal suggestions of armed aid either before or since
the note was written, and he stated to me yesterday that, in spite of
the demands of the opposition press that he make a vigorous reply to the
hint of intervention in my telegram to Vasquez, he would not do so.
As for the statement in the Dominican Government’s note that the budget
has not been exceeded, it is in contradiction of what the President
himself had said to me on two occasions, and at best is technically true
only; for example, the entire credit provided in the budget for the
fiscal year from July 1, 1915, to June 30, 1916, may not yet have been
exceeded.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
Horacio Vásquez to Chargé
Johnson.
American Minister: Your telegram received.
I believe that not by means of threats but through tried and
respected institutions will the country obtain a lasting peace. The
threats and conduct of Minister Sullivan in support of the
indefensible administration of Bordas contributed hot a little to
one of our most disastrous wars. Moreover, I do not believe that
President Wilson has the right, under any pretext, to violate the
sovereignty of an independent people. I am pledged to the cause of
peace and shall remain unalterably firm, as I said to Senator Castro
in my published telegram; but I believe that respect for personal
liberty and for the laws by the Government is indispensable in order
to obtain the so greatly desired end.
[Page 293]
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
The Dominican Foreign
Office to Chargé Johnson.
No. E/E. 360.]
Foreign Office,
Santo Domingo,
July 23, 1915.
Mr. Chargé: I acknowledge receipt of your
polite note No. 167 of yesterday’s date confirming the
representations which you made to His Excellency the President of
the Republic in my presence on the afternoon of the 19th
instant.
I have been specially charged by the President of the Republic to
express to you that the Dominican Government without going outside
the limits of the present budget has succeeded in meeting the
expenses necessary for the reestablishment of public order,
disturbed a few days ago.
The interest which your Government has in aiding in the maintenance
of order in this Republic might well consist merely in appraising
the efficiency of the rapid measures taken for its financial
rehabilitation which, if they had not been taken, would have
resulted in an increase of the evils, necessitating much greater
economic sacrifices and leaving in a state of complete failure the
plan of organization under which gradually the different branches of
the public service were becoming more efficient.
I am also charged to express to you that the Dominican Government
believes that its forces are sufficient to reestablish public order
each time it is disturbed, and that it therefore has no need of the
spontaneous aid to that end offered by the American Government, thus
avoiding in addition the sacrifice of American lives in our
international conflicts.
Moreover, the Dominican Government thinks that any such measures
might have the effect of causing national sentiment, urged on from
interested sources, to convert the assistance into a situation of
hostility before the American forces.
I avail [etc.]
