File No. 839.00/1747.
[Untitled]
Santo Domingo, September 4, 1915—10 a.m.
Principal rebel chiefs Macoris, among them Calcaño who destroyed records of and looted customhouse La Romana, have made terms with Government whereby, so I am informed reliably, they are promised road building contracts and appointment of district rural police whose salaries under the law are paid by same sugar estates whom chiefs had robbed. They are also given personal guaranties and Calcaño himself is now at liberty in this city, also I am reliably informed that followers of these chiefs continue under arms in the interior Macoris. Besides the disorders Sanchez, an important leader in this province, envious of terms granted Macoris leaders has repudiated his peace agreement and started trouble at Bani. [Page 295] Enrique Jiménez who negotiated terms reported to have frankly admitted to sugar estates inability of Government to cope with situation and to have suggested paying half of cost of new rural guard under American which suggestion repelled by sugar estates owing probable failure of Government to pay its half.
There is still no prospect of important military move except perhaps against Feliu. Developments of last few days reveal inconceivable weak and temporizing policy. Doubtful if, even with arrival toctay of munitions, anything will be accomplished towards restoring order. The Government’s finances are badly disorganized, its forces as inefficient as ever, and its policy an inducement to take the field.
Present condition of affairs warrants serious consideration of our rights in the light of following documents: Memorandum of Department for Fort Commission dated August 10, 1914,3 published here known as “Wilson Plan”; policies of Department embodied in Legation’s telegram to Vasquez, published here; and formal protest regarding diversion of funds, contained in note to Foreign Office (see my despatch No. 189 dated July 22). In any event I cannot emphasize too strongly my conviction that we should make no further advances or concessions of any kind to the Dominican Government under the convention, except on terms (see my despatch No. 200 dated August 264) in spite of fact that our firmness might result in decided increase of present revolutionary movement. Under present conditions, money would be wasted without accomplishing any permanent improvement.
- See For. Rel. 1914, p. 247.↩
- See Financial Affairs.↩