Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 5, 1916

File No. 839.00/1968

Clerk Brewer, in charge of the Legation archives, to the Secretary of State ⁹

[Extract]

No. 143

American Legation,
Santo Domingo, December 6, 1916.

Sir: In confirmation of my telegram of the 4th instant, I have the honor to report that the only trouble so far reported was at San Francisco de Macorís under the leadership of General Lico Pérez, Governor of the Province of Pacificador. Pérez, with about one hundred men, is said to be moving towards this city. A detachment of marines is in pursuit of him.

From a military standpoint, the situation in the cities occupied by the marines is very satisfactory, and their operations will undoubtedly be extended as occasion may demand.

Payments under the budget were resumed by the Receivership on December 2, salaries pending for June and July, for various reasons, being cleared up. Mr. Edwards has kept his work so well in hand that he expects to carry through payments from August to December by the first week in December. The resumption of payments and their uninterrupted continuation will act as a large factor in gaining the cooperation and good will of the Dominican people.

The system that is being followed in making payment of the pending salaries is one that has caused great contentment to the recipients and consequent discontent and dismay to the money lender, many of whom have bought up salary accounts at a rate ranging up to 75 per cent of the amount. No checks are to be accepted by endorsement. No payments will be made except on checks properly signed by the payee, presented by the payee, identification being an added requirement by the banking house of Michelena. In view of these requirements many of those who have sold their salaries at usurious interest have declared that they will not cash their checks for the benefit of the broker unless he agrees to make satisfactory settlement with them.

Finally, I have to report that the return of Mr. Russell is being awaited with interest, as it is confidently expected he will bring the solution of some of the questions at present unsettled, so that our entire policy here may be understood and the machinery of the whole country placed in working order and the beneficial results of American military occupation and government made apparent in the shortest possible time.

I am enclosing, for the information of the Department, copies of Captain Knapp’s communication to me in regard to his proclamation; my reply to this communication; and copies in English and Spanish of the proclamation.

I have [etc.]

John Brewer

[Inclosure 1]

Captain Knapp to Mr. Brewer

U. S. S. Olympia,
Santo Domingo, November 29, 1916.

Sir: I enclose copies of a Proclamation of Occupation and Military Government in the Republic of Santo Domingo by the forces under my command.

I request that you will bring this proclamation to the notice of the proper authorities of the Dominican Government.

The hour set for making the proclamation effective is —.

I have [etc.]

H. S. Knapp

[Subinclosure]

Proclamation of Occupation and Military Government

PROCLAMATION

Whereas, a treaty was concluded between the United States of America and the Republic of Santo Domingo on February 8, 1907, Article III of which reads:

“Until the Dominican Republic has paid the whole amount of the bonds of the debt its public debt shall not be increased except by previous agreement between the Dominican Government and the United States. A like agreement shall be necessary to modify the import duties, it being an indispensable condition for the modification of such duties that the Dominican Executive demonstrate and that the President of the United States recognize that, on the basis of exportations and importations of the like amount and the like character during the two years preceding that in which it is desired to make such modification, the total net customs receipts would at such altered rates of duties have been for each of such two years in excess of the sum of $2,000,000 United States gold”; and

Whereas, the Government of Santo Domingo has violated the said Article III on more than one occasion; and

Whereas, the Government of Santo Domingo has from time to time explained such violation by the necessity of incurring expenses incident to the repression of revolution; and

Whereas, the United States Government, with great forbearance and with a friendly desire to enable Santo Domingo to maintain domestic tranquility and observe the terms of the aforesaid treaty, has urged upon the Government of Santo Domingo certain necessary measures which that Government has been unwilling or unable to adopt; and

Whereas, in consequence domestic tranquility has been disturbed and is not now established, nor is the future observance of the treaty by the Government of Santo Domingo assured; and

Whereas, the Government of the United States is determined that the time has come to take measures to insure the observance of the provisions of the aforesaid treaty by the Republic of Santo Domingo and to maintain the domestic tranquility in the said Republic of Santo Domingo necessary thereto;

Now, therefore, I, H. S. Knapp, Captain, United States Navy, commanding the Cruiser Force of the United States Atlantic Fleet, and the armed forces of the United States stationed in various places within the territory of the Republic of Santo Domingo, acting under the authority and by the direction of the Government of the United States, declare and announce to all concerned that the Republic of Santo Domingo is hereby placed in a state of Military Occupation by the forces under my command, and is made subject to Military Government and to the exercise of military law applicable to such occupation.

This military occupation is undertaken with no immediate or ulterior object of destroying the sovereignty of the Republic of Santo Domingo, but, on the contrary, is designed to give aid to that country in returning to a condition of internal order that will enable it to observe the terms of the treaty aforesaid, and the obligations resting upon it as one of the family of nations.

Dominican statutes, therefore, will continue in effect in so far as they do not conflict with the objects of the Occupation or necessary regulations established thereunder, and their lawful administration will continue in the hands of such duly authorized Dominican officials as may be necessary, all under the oversight and control of the United States Forces exercising Military Government.

The ordinary administration of justice, both in civil and criminal matters, through the regularly constituted Dominican courts will not be interfered with by the Military Government herein established; but cases to which a member of the United States Forces in Occupation is a party, or in which are involved contempt or defiance of the authority of the Military Government, will be tried by tribunals set up by the Military Government.

All revenue accruing to the Dominican Government, including revenues hitherto accrued and unpaid—whether from customs duties under the terms of the Treaty concluded on February 8, 1907, the Receivership established by which remains in effect, or from internal revenue—shall be paid to the Military Government herein established, which will, in trust for the Republic of Santo Domingo, hold such revenue and will make all the proper legal disbursements therefrom necessary for the administration of the Dominican Government, and for the purposes of the Occupation.

I call upon the citizens of, and residents and sojourners in, Santo Domingo to cooperate with the Forces of the United States in Occupation to the end that the purposes thereof may promptly be attained, and that the country may be restored to domestic order and tranquility and to the prosperity that can be attained only under such conditions.

The Forces of the United States in Occupation will act in accordance with military law governing their conduct, with due respect for the personal and property rights of citizens of, and residents and sojourners in, Santo Domingo, upholding Dominican laws in so far as they do not conflict with the purposes for which the Occupation is undertaken.

H. S. Knapp

,
Captain United States Navy, Commander Cruiser Force,
United States Atlantic Fleet

U. S. S. “Olympia,” Flagship,
Santo Domingo City, R. D.
November 29, 1916.

[Inclosure 2]

Mr. Brewer to Captain Knapp

American Legation,
Santo Domingo, November 29, 1916.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of even date herewith, enclosing copies of a Proclamation of Occupation and Military Government in the Republic of Santo Domingo by the Forces under your command.

In pursuance to the request therein contained I have immediately brought this proclamation to the attention of the proper authorities of the Dominican Government, in an entirely unofficial manner.

I have [etc.]

John Brewer

9. Receipt acknowledged December 26, 1916.