1. This treaty was entered into at the earnest request of Santo Domingo
itself, and is designed to afford Santo Domingo relief and assistance.
Its primary benefit will be to Santo Domingo. It offers the method most
likely to secure peace and to prevent war in the island.
2. The benefit to the United States will consist chiefly in the
tendency under the treaty to secure stability, order, and prosperity in
Santo Domingo, and the removal of the apprehension lest foreign powers
make aggressions on Santo Domingo in the course of collecting claims
due their citizens; for it is greatly to our interest that all the
islands in the Caribbean Sea should enjoy peace and prosperity and feel
goodwill toward this country. The benefit to honest creditors will come
from the fact that for the first time under this treaty a practicable
method of attempting to settle the debts due them will be inaugurated.
3. Many of the debts alleged to be due from Santo Domingo to outside
creditors unquestionably on their face represent far more money than
ever was actually given Santo Domingo. The proposed treaty provides
for a process by which impartial experts will determine what debts are
valid and what are in whole or in part invalid, and will apportion
accordingly the surplus revenue available for the payment of the debts.
This treaty offers the only method for preventing the collection of
fraudulent debts, whether owed to Americans or to citizens of other
nations.
4. This treaty affords the most practicable means of obtaining payment
for the just claims of American citizens.
5. If the treaty is ratified creditors belonging to other nations
will have exactly as good treatment as creditors who are citizens
of the United States, and at the same time Santo Domingo will be
protected against unjust and exorbitant claims. If it is not ratified
the chances are that American creditors will fare ill as compared
with those of other nations; for foreign nations, being denied the
opportunity to get what is rightfully due their citizens under the
proposed arrangement, will be left to collect debts due their citizens
as they see fit, provided, of course, there is not permanent occupancy
of Dominican territory. As in such case the United States will have
nothing to say as to what debts should or should not be collected, and
as Santo Domingo will be left without aid, assistance, or protection,
it is impossible to state that the sums collected from it will not
be improper in amount. In such event, whatever is collected by means
of forcible intervention will be applied to the creditors of foreign
nations in preference to creditors who are citizens of the United
States.
6. The correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Minister
of Haiti, submitted to the Senate several days ago, shows that our
position is explicitly and unreservedly that under no circumstances
do we intend to acquire territory in or possession of either Haiti or
Santo Domingo; it being stated in these letters that even if the two
republics desired to become a part of the United States the United
States would certainly refuse its assent.
7. Santo Domingo grievously needs the aid of a powerful and friendly
nation. This aid we are able, and I trust that we are willing, to
bestow. She has asked for this aid, and the expressions of friendship
repeatedly sanctioned by the people and the Government of the United
States warrant her in believing that it will not be withheld in the
hour of her need.