File No. 839.51/1958
The Secretary of the Navy (
Daniels) to
the Secretary of State
Washington, undated.
[Received
May 8, 1918.]
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith
for consideration and for such action as may be deemed advisable by
the Department of State, a letter dated May 2, 1918, from the
Military Governor of Santo Domingo relative to the indebtedness of
the Dominican Republic, and requesting that the public debt of that
country be increased by such an amount as shall be found by the
Dominican Claims Commission of 1917 to be justly due claimants.
Sincerely yours,
[Page 375]
[Enclosure]
The Military Governor of Santo Domingo
(
Knapp) to the Secretary of the Navy (
Daniels)
At the time when military government was proclaimed, the
Dominican Republic had increased its public debt contrary to the
provisions of Article 3 of the treaty concluded February 8,
1907, which requires the consent of the United States to any
such increase. Such consent had not been obtained and this
neglect of the Dominican Government was, indeed, one of the
principal reasons for the intervention of the United States.
- 2.
- In January 1917, within two months after the proclamation
of military government, I wrote requesting that a claims
commission be appointed to pass upon claims of indebtedness
against the Dominican Republic in order that this
indebtedness might be cleared up. I was directed to appoint
such a commission myself, which was done. The commission has
been at work for over nine months upon claims whose nominal
aggregate is over $14,000,000.
- 3.
- The action of the United States Government in directing
the appointment of a claims commission gives inferential
approval to such increase of the public debt of the
Dominican Republic as shall result from the aggregate of
claims approved by the commission. No formal, specific
authorization for the increase has ever been made, however,
and it appears wise that such formal, specific authorization
should be given.
- 4.
- As the Military Governor of Santo Domingo, and acting for
the Dominican Republic, I therefore request that the State
Department specifically authorize the increase of the public
debt of the Dominican Republic by such an amount as shall be
found by the Dominican Claims Commission of 1917, now in
session, to be justly due claimants.
The Secretary of
State to the Secretary of the Navy
(
Daniels)
Washington,
May 25, 1918.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter undated enclosing, for the
consideration of this Department and for such action as may be
deemed advisable, a letter dated May 2, 1918, from the Military
Governor of the Dominican Republic, regarding the indebtedness
of that country and urging that the public debt of the Republic
might be increased by such an amount as the total found due to
the claimants by the Dominican Claims Commission of 1917.
I have the honor to say, in reply, that this Department does not
appear to be in possession of copies of the correspondence
relative to the appointment of the Claims Commission referred to
by the Military Governor of the Dominican Republic in paragraph
2 of his communication of May 2, 1918, and that it would
appreciate being supplied with such copies for use in
considering the Governor’s request for authorization of an
increase in the public debt of the Dominican Republic.
The Department will also appreciate being informed whether it is
proposed to pay the awards of the Claims Commission at the time
when they are made, or to await the termination of the
commission’s labors before making any such payments.
I have [etc.]
