File No. 839.51/1474.
The Secretary of State to Minister Sullivan.
Washington , January 12, 1915—6 p.m.
After conference with the Dominican Minister here we ask you to make the following suggestion to President Jiménes: Internal revenue stamps given away or sold at a big discount will, if used, very much reduce the revenue from internal revenue sources. We advise, therefore, that the President issue a proclamation declaring the old stamps invalid and non-receivable, at the same time offering to redeem outstanding stamps at the price paid for them plus legal rate of interest from date of purchase. This will give internal revenue at once and from the money thus received the old stamps can be redeemed, the burden of proof being upon those presenting stamps for redemption to show the amount actually paid for them.