Office of the Historian

File No. 439.00/19

Chargé Goold to the Secretary of State

No. 258
American Legation,
Santo Domingo, October 10, 1917.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith (3) copies of Official Gazette No. 2843 of October 3, 1917, containing Executive Order No. 83 of the Military Government of Santo Domingo in which is fixed the specific date of the plan of adjustment referred to in Executive Order No. 60 of June 26, 1917 in regard to claims to be considered by the Dominican Claims Commission of 1917.

I have [etc.]

Herbert S. Goold
[Inclosure]

military government of santo domingo

Executive Order No. 83

Whereas, in Executive Order No. 60, dated June 26, 1917, “The Dominican Claims Commission of 1917” was created for the purpose of investigating and adjusting “all outstanding claims which had their origin after the adjustment made to conform with the terms of the American-Dominican Convention of February 8, 1907”; and

Whereas, it is essential for the guidance of the Dominican Claims Commission and for the information of the public in general to fix the specific date of the plan of adjustment above referred to; and

Whereas, under the law of Congress promulgated May 28, 1909, and published in Offical Gazette No. 1997, it was provided that all claims against the Dominican Republic which had their origin prior to July 1, 1904, should be submitted for examination and settlement in accordance with the plan of adjustment before January 1, 1910, and if not so submitted should be considered as non-existent;

Therefore, by virtue of the powers vested in the Military Government of Santo Domingo, and to insure the consideration and complete adjustment of all outstanding claims against the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Claims Commission of 1917, created by Executive Order No. 60, dated June 26, 1917, is hereby authorized and empowered to receive, investigate and adjust all outstanding [Page 728] claims against the Dominican Republic which had their origin after July 1, 1904 and prior to November 29, 1916, provided, however, that no claim shall be considered by the Dominican Claims Commission of 1917 if such claim in whole or in part was included in, or adjusted, or rejected, under the plan of adjustment made to conform with the terms of the American-Dominican Convention of February 8, 1907.

H. S. Knapp

Santo Domingo, September 21, 1917.