[Enclosure]
Draft of Proclamation for Withdrawal of American
Forces from the Dominican Republic11
Whereas, by Proclamation of the Military
Governor of Santo Domingo, dated December 23, 1920,12 it was
announced to the people of the Dominican Republic that the
Government of the United States desired to inaugurate the simple
processes of its rapid withdrawal from the responsibilities assumed
in connection with Dominican affairs; and
Whereas it is necessary that a duly
constituted Government of the Dominican Republic exist before this
withdrawal of the United States may become effective, in order that
the functions of government may be resumed by it in an orderly
manner,
Now, Therefore, I, , Military Governor of
Santo Domingo, acting under the authority and by direction of the
Government of the United States, declare and announce to all
concerned, that the Government of the United States proposes to
withdraw its military forces from the Dominican Republic in
accordance with the steps set forth herein. It is the desire of the
Government of the United States to assure itself before its
withdrawal is accomplished that the independence and territorial
integrity of the Dominican Republic, the maintenance of public
order, and the security of life and property, will be adequately
safeguarded, and to turn over the administration of the Dominican
Republic to a responsible Dominican Government duly established in
accordance with the existing Constitution and laws. To this end, it
calls upon the Dominican people to lend to it their helpful
cooperation with the hope that the withdrawal of the military forces
of the United States may be completed, if such cooperation is
extended in the manner hereinafter provided, within a period of
eight months.
[Page 836]
The Executive power vested by the Dominican Constitution in the
President of the Republic shall be exercised by the Military
Governor of Santo Domingo until a duly elected proclaimed President
of the Republic shall have taken office and until a Treaty of
Evacuation shall have been signed by the President and confirmed by
the Dominican Congress.
Within one month from the date of this Proclamation the Military
Governor will convene the primary assemblies to assemble thirty days
after the date of the Decree of Convocation in conformity with
articles 82 and 83 of the Constitution.13 These assemblies shall proceed to elect the
electors as prescribed by Article 84 of the Constitution. In order
that these elections may be held without disorder and in order that
the will of the Dominican people may be freely expressed, these
elections will be held under the supervision of the authorities
designated by the Military Governor.
The electoral colleges thus elected by the primary assemblies shall,
in accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution, proceed to elect
Senators, Deputies, and alternates for the latter, and to prepare
lists for the Justices of the Supreme Court, of the Appellate
Courts, and the Tribunals and Courts of the First Instance, as
prescribed by Article 85 of the Constitution.
The Military Governor, performing the functions of Chief Executive,
will then appoint, in accordance with Article 53 of the
Constitution, certain Dominican citizens as representatives of the
Republic to negotiate a Treaty of Evacuation. In order that the
enjoyment of individual rights may be insured, and in order that the
peace and prosperity of the Republic may be conserved, the said
Treaty of Evacuation shall contain the following provisions:
- 1.
- Ratification of all of the acts of the Military
Government;
- 2.
- Validation of the final loan of $2,500,000,14
which is the minimum loan required in order to complete the
public works which are now in actual course of construction,
and which can be completed during the period required for
the withdrawal of the Military Occupation and are deemed
essential to the success of the new Government of the
Republic and to the well-being of the Dominican
people;
- 3.
- Extension of the duties of the General Receiver of
Dominican Customs, appointed under the convention of
1907,15
to apply to the said loan;
- 4.
- Extension of the powers of the General Receiver of
Dominican Customs to the collection and disbursement of such
portion of the internal revenues of the Republic as may
prove to be necessary, [Page 837] should the customs revenues at any
time be insufficient to meet the service of the foreign debt
of the Republic;
- 5.
- The obligation on the part of the Dominican Government, in
order to preserve peace, to afford adequate protection to
life and property, and to secure the proper discharge of all
obligations of the Dominican Republic, to maintain an
efficient Guardia Nacional, urban and rural, composed of
native Dominicans. To this end, it shall also be agreed in
said Treaty that the President of the Dominican Republic
shall at once request the President of the United States to
send a Military Mission to the Dominican Republic, charged
with the duty of securing the competent organization of such
Guardia Nacional; the Guardia Nacional to be officered by
such Dominican Officers as may be competent to undertake
such service, and, for such time as may be found necessary
to effect the desired organization, with American Officers
appointed by the President of the Dominican Republic upon
the nomination of the President of the United States. The
expenses of said Mission will be paid by the Dominican
Republic, and the said Mission will be invested by the
Executive of the Dominican Republic with proper and adequate
authority to accomplish the purpose above stated.
The Military Governor will thereupon convene the Dominican Congress
in extraordinary session to confirm the Treaty of Evacuation
referred to above.
The Military Governor will then assemble the electoral colleges for
the purpose of electing a President of the Dominican Republic in
accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution, and simultaneously,
officials other than the Senators and Deputies elected at the first
convocation of the electoral colleges, will be installed in
office.
The Dominican President so elected will then take office in
accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution, at the same time
signing the Treaty of Evacuation as confirmed by the Dominican
Congress.
Upon this ratification of the Treaty of Evacuation, assuming that
through the cooperation of the people of the Dominican Re-, public a
condition of peace and good order obtains, the Military Governor
will transfer to the duly elected President of the Republic all of
his powers and the Military Government will cease; and thereupon,
the forces of the United States will be at once withdrawn.
The further assistance of the Advisory Commission appointed under the
Proclamation of December 23, 1920, being no longer required, it is
hereby dissolved, with the expression of the grateful appreciation
of the Government of the United States of the selfsacrificing
services of the patriotic citizens of the Dominican Republic of whom
it has been composed.
