| OCR Text |
Show U. S, MARINE IN SANTO DOMINGO Are Keeping Order Until After the Election in January. Janu-ary. Washington, Nov. 30. Military rule has been proclaimed in Santo Domingo Do-mingo by the United States navy to suppress existing political chaos in the little republic and pave the way for guaranteeing future quiet by establishing establish-ing there such a financial and police protectorate as the American government govern-ment now exercises over Haiti. Eighteen hundred American marines ma-rines will maintain order for the present and at least euntil elections are held in January, their officers will supervise the conduct of government govern-ment by native officials and disburse the customs revenues which American receivers have been collecting by treaty arrangement for nine years. The navy proclamation issued yesterday yes-terday apparently has been put into effect without bloodshed. It was announced an-nounced here today by Secretary Daniels Dan-iels in the following statement: "Captain H. S. Knapp, in command of the United States forces in Santo Domingo, reports that in compliance with instructions received, military government was proclaimed by him in San Domingo at 4 p. m., November 29. An order regarding carrying of arms or having them in possession, has been put in effect. Payment of salaries of government officials will be resumed immediately. "The proclamation was well received. re-ceived. Conditions are reported as being be-ing normal and the great majority of tho people regard the proclamation with favor." Although no publicity has been given the government's decision to adopt such measures, Captain Knapp's action was the result of plans carefully care-fully worked out by state and navy department de-partment officials after conferences with Minister Russell, recalled from Santo Domingo for the purpose, and consideration of full reports from the naval officers on the scene. Captain Knapp, recently sent to relieve Rear Admiral Pond fh Dominican waters, carried with him complete instructions for his task. The necessity for a drastic step has been considered since the overthrow several months ago by President Jim-Inez Jim-Inez -by General Arias, a strongly anti-American anti-American revolutionist. With Arias in control, the Dominican assembly elected elect-ed Frederico Enriques president, but the United States refused to recognize the now government and withheld the balance of customs revenues left after ! the regular payments of interest on the foreign debt. Consequently the native officials and employes will draw their first pay since the downfall down-fall of Jimlnez when on December 2 the American officers begin to disburse dis-burse some $600,000 of accumulated export duties. j No Infringement on Civil Rights. Secretary Daniels explained today that the form of rule set up by Captain Cap-tain Knapp did not contemplate any infringement of the civil rights or processes of the native government. The marines will maintain order and prevent revolutionary agitation, but the municipal and civil laws will still be administered by Dominican courts. Captain Knapp was selected for this job because of special fitness growing out of his service on the neutrality board. That duty led him into a careful care-ful study of the situation in Haiti and Santo Domingo. His report says that probably 90 per cent of the native business busi-ness men and others who desire permanent per-manent peace on the island approve the steps that have been taken and those which are in contemplation. Upon the election of a president by the assembly to be chosen in January, the United States will ask for the ratification rati-fication of a treaty similar to that in force with Haiti, providing for American Ameri-can supervision of Dominican finances and for a native constabulary officered offi-cered by Americans. High officials made it plain tonight that the Washington government is determined there shall be no renewal of the revolutionists in Haiti or San Domingo which for years have rendered ren-dered the island a source of menace to the international .relations of the United States because of the foreign capital invested there. |
