stirring up South American susceptibilities. It would, however, permit of less latitude for the improvement of conditions in Santo Domingo.
For some time to come it is probable that some form of protectorate will be the choice of both parties. Many American statesmen are opposed to annexation, and the Dominicans as a rule would prefer the phantom of sovereignty in a mediatized republic to the real advantages of annexation.
It is only natural that Dominicans should feel sad at passing under the government of a foreign power. But those of clearer vision recognize that there is no alternative, that the independence of the Republic has long been a fiction, that real freedom is only now beginning to dawn, and that American assistance will give the greatest impetus to prosperity. For several years the number of persons taking such a broader view has been rapidly increasing. It was not long ago when friends of mine in Santo Domingo would lead me to the middle of the plazza, out of hearing of any eavesdropper, and then with bated breath confide their conviction that the only salvation of the country lay in the United States. Ruin and sorrow brought by the civil wars have caused such ideas to spread and be openly expressed. At present it may be said that many Dominicans welcome American assistance, that the great majority accept it, and that only a small minority are bitterly opposed to it, and these objectors are principally former politicians and revolutionists whose opinion counts for least. The number of those favoring American intervention is being increased by the splendid administrative work of the present American authorities and would doubtless be still further augmented by valuable constructive legislation and by a more uniform display of tact and kindliness on the part of all American officials.
These relations between the two countries impose at least a moral duty upon the United States. They make it incumbent upon the United States, as far as is in its power, to foster the development of Santo Domingo and promote the happiness of the Dominican people. One measure it should adopt is the granting of suitable tariff concessions. Another measure is the creation, for the administration of the countries dependent on the United States, of a corps of trained men, selected and retained without regard to political considerations, thoroughly qualified for the duties they are to assume, speaking the language of the country where they are sent, and capable of a sympathetic understanding with the inhabitants. By showing an interest of this kind the United States will properly fulfill its proud mission of spreading liberty and prosperity in the new world.
The closer relations between the United States and Santo Domingo will bring that country one boon of inestimable value, namely, peace. It is obvious that all the troubles which have befallen the Dominican Republic are due directly or indirectly to the state of civil disorder which has so long been the bane of the country. Another advantage which these relations will bring is a proper administration of the country’s finances. Peace and efficient administration will mean the multiplication of roads, railroads and other public improvements, the extension of education and a rapid advance of the people and development of the country. When we think of the vast resources of Santo Domingo, the mineral treasures hidden within Its forest covered mountains, the unlimited agricultural wealth concealed beneath its fertile soil, the enchanting beauty of its scenery, the courtesy and hospitality of its people, its glorious early days and distressing later history, we must be glad that the clouds which have so long shrouded the land in darkness are definitely dissipated at last and that the sun of peace and prosperity has begun to shine.
With peace assured and with means of communication provided, it is easy to make predictions as to the economic future of Santo Domingo. There will probably never be much manufacturing but agriculture will increase with enormous strides assisted by streams of foreign capital which will not be slow to realize the exceptional opportunities offered. Sugar growing will probably be preferred and the southern plains as well as a great portion of the rich Cibao Valley will soon be covered with waving canefields. Tobacco will also receive attention and perhaps fruit growing. Cacao and coffee will spread more slowly. Prospecting for mineral wealth will be undertaken. The extension of agriculture will stimulate commerce and augment, the wealth of the people. Within a few years the country will become one of the richest gardens of the West Indies.
The curtain has gone down upon the epoch of revolutions, conspiracies, civil wars and destruction. That period belongs to the past as definitely as the era of freebooters and pirates. A new era has begun for beautiful Quisqueya, in which, under the protection of the Stars and Stripes, it is destined to enjoy a greater measure of freedom, progress and prosperity than its inhabitants have ever dreamed.
APPENDIX A
CHIEFS OF STATE OF SANTO DOMINGO
1492-1918
FIRST SPANISH COLONY
_Governors_
Admiral Cristopher Columbus, viceroy 1492-1500 Adelantado Bartholomew Columbus 1496-1498 Comendador Francisco de Bobadilla 1500-1502 Comendador Nicolás de Ovando 1502-1509 Diego Columbus, Second Admiral 1509-1515 Licentiate Cristábal Lebrán, in connection with Royal Audiencia 1515-1516 Luis de Figueroa, Bernardino de Manzanedo, and Ildefonso de Santo Domingo, friars of the order of San Jeránimo 1516-1519 Licentiate Rodrigo de Figueroa 1519-1520 Diego Columbus, Second Admiral 1520-1524 Royal Audiencia, in connection with judges Caspar de Espinosa and Alonso de Zuazo 1524-1528
_Governors and Captains-General _
(Note. Owing to the incompleteness of the records the following list probably contains inaccuracies.)
Sebastián Ramirez de Fuenleal, Bishop of Santo Domingo and Concepcián de la Vega 1528-1531 Royal Audiencia 1531-1533 Licentiate Alonso de Fuenmayor, Bishop of Santo Domingo and Concepcián de la Vega 1533-1540 Louis Columbus, Third Admiral 1540-1543 Licentiate Alonso Lápez de Cerrato 1543-1549 Licentiate Alonso de Fuenmayor, Archbishop of Santo Domingo 1549-1556 Licentiate Alonso de Maldonado 1556-1560 Licentiate Cepeda 1560 Licentiate Veras 1560-1561 Licentiate Alonso Arias de Herrera 1561-1564 Antonio de Osorio 1564-1583 Licentiate Cristábal de Ovalles 1583-1590 Lope de Vega Portocarrero 1590-1597 Domingo de Osorio 1597-1608 Diego Gámez de Sandoval 1608-1624 Diego de Acuña 1624-1634 Maestre de Campo Juan Bitrián de Viamonte 1634-1646 Nicolás Velazco Altamirano 1646-1649 Maestre de Campo Gabriel de Chaves Osorio 1649-1652 Bernardino de Menesets y Bracamonte, Count of Peñalva 1652-1657 Felix de Zuñiga 1657-1658 Andrés Pérez Franco 1658-1660 Juan Francisco de Montemayor Cárdova y Cuenca 1660-1662 Juan de Balboa y Mogrovejo 1662-1670 Pedro de Carvajal y Lobos 1670-1671 Maestre de Campo Ignacio de Zayas Bazán 1671-1677 Dr. Juan de Padilla Guardiola y Guzmán 1677-1679 Maestre de Campo Francisco de Segura Sandoval y Castilla 1679-1684 Maestre de Campo Andrés de Robles 1684-1689 Admiral Ignacio Pérez Caro 1689-1698 Maestre de Campo Gil Correoso Catalan 1698-1699 Severino de Manzaneda 1699-1702 Admiral Ignacio Pérez Caro 1702-1706 Licentiate Sebastián de Cerezada y Girán 1706-1707 Guillermo Morfi 1707-1713 Brigadier Pedro de Niela y Torres 1713-1714 Colonel Antonio Landeche 1714-1715 Brigadier Fernando Constanzo y Ramárez, Knight of Santiago 1715-1723 Colonel Francisco de la Rocha y Ferrer 1723-1732 Brigadier Alfonso de Castro y Mazo 1732-1739 Brigadier Pedro Zorrilla y de San Martin, Marquis of la Gándara Real 1739-1750 Brigadier Juan José Colomo 1750 Teniente rey José de Zunnier de Basteros 1750-1751 Brigadier Francisco Rubio y Peñaranda 1751-1759 Field-Marshal Manuel de Azlor y Urries 1759-1771 Brigadier José Solano y Bote 1771-1779 Brigadier Isidore de Peralta y Rojas 1779-1785 Colonel Joaquán García y Moreno 1785-1786 Brigadier Manuel González de Torres 1786-1788 Brigadier Joaquán García y Moreno 1788-1801
FRENCH COLONY
_Governors_
General Toussaint l’Ouverture 1801-1802 General Antoine Nicolas Kerverseau 1802-1803 General Marie Louis Ferrand 1803-1808 General L. Barquier 1808-1809
SECOND SPANISH COLONY
_Governors and Captains-General_
Brigadier Juan Sánchez Ramárez 1809-1811 Colonel Manuel Caballero y Masot 1811-1813 Brigadier Carlos de Urrutia y Matos 1813-1818 Brigadier Sebastian Kindelan y Oregán 1818-1821 Brigadier Pascual Real 1821
STATE OF COLOMBIAN REPUBLIC
_Governor and President_
Licentiate José Nuñez de Cáceres 1821-1822
HAITIAN RULE
_Presidents_
Jean Pierre Boyer 1822-1843 Charles Riviáre Hérardi ainé 1843-1844
FIRST REPUBLIC
_Presidents_
Central Council of Government (Provisional government) 1844 Pedro Santana, Provisional and Constitutional President 1844-1848 Manuel Jiménez, Constitutional President 1848-1849 Buenaventura Baez, Constitutional President 1849-1853 Pedro Santana, Constitutional President 1853-1856 Manuel de Regla Mota, Vice-President 1856 Buenaventura Baez, Vice-President 1856-1858 José Desiderio Valverde, Constitutional President 1858 Pedro Santana, Provisional and Constitutional President 1858-1861
THIRD SPANISH COLONY
_Governors and Captains-General_
Lieutenant-General Pedro Santana 1861-1862 Lieutenant-General Felipe Ribero y Lemoine 1862-1863 Brigadier Carlos de Vargas 1863-1864 Lieutenant-General José de la Gándara 1864-1865
SECOND REPUBLIC
_Presidents_
José Salcedo, Provisional President 1863-1864 Gaspar Polanco, Provisional President 1864-1865 Benigno Filorneno de Rojas, Provisional President 1865 Pedro Antonio Pimentel, Constitutional President 1865 José Maria Cabral, Provisional President 1865 Buenaventura Baez, Provisional and Constitutional President 1865-1866 José Maria Cabral, Constitutional President 1866-1868 Buenaventura Baez, Constitutional President 1868-1873 Ignacio Maria Gonzalez, Provisional and Constitutional President 1874-1876 Uliees F. Espaillat, Constitutional President 1876 Ignacio María González, Provisional President 1876 Buenaventura Baez, Provisional and Constitutional President 1876-1878 Cesareo Guillermo, Provisional and Constitutional President 1878
Ignacio Marña González, Constitutional President 1878 Jacinto de Castro, President Supreme Court 1878 Cesareo Guillermo, Provisional and Constitutional President 1878-1879 Gregorio Luperán, Provisional President 1879-1880 Fernando A. de Meriño, Constitutional President 1880-1882 Ulises Heureaux, Constitutional President 1882-1884 Francisco Gregorio Billini, Constitutional President 1884-1885 Alejandro Woss y Gil, Vice-President and Provisional President 1885-1887 Ulises Heureaux, Constitutional President (4 terms) 1887-1899 Juan Wenceslao Figuereo, Vice-President 1899 Horacio Vásquez, Provisional President 1899 Juan Isidro Jimánez, Constitutional President 1899-1902 Horacio Vásquez, Provisional President 1902-1903 Alejandro Woss y Gil, Provisional and Constitutional President 1903
Carlos E. Morales, Provisional and Constitutional President 1903-1906 Ramán Cáceres, Vice-President and Constitutional President 1906-1911 Eladio Victoria, Provisional and Constitutional President 1911-1912 Adolfo A. Nouel, Provisional President 1912-1913 José Bordas Valdez, Provisional President 1913-1914 Ramán Baez, Provisional President 1914 Juan Isidro Jimánez, Constitutional President 1914-1916 Francisco Henriquez Carvajal, Provisional President 1916
AMERICAN INTERVENTION
_Military Governor_
Rear-Admiral H. S. Knapp 1916-
APPENDIX B
OLD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN USE IN SANTO DOMINGO
The equivalents between old weights and measures still in use in Santo Domingo with the legal or metric system, are as follows, the equivalents with American measures being also given:
Dominican American Metric
Measures of length:
1 league 3.46 miles 5.5727 kilometers 1 ona 3 feet, 10.79 inches 1.1884 meters 1 yard 35.996 inches 0.9143 meter 1 vara 32.91 inches 0.836 meter 1 foot 10.945 inches 0.278 meter 1 inch 0.9055 inch 0.023 meter 1 line [1] 0.0787 inch 0.002 meter
Surface measures:
1 tarea [2] 0.1554 acre 628.86 sq. meters 1 caballeria 186.50 acres 75.4636 hectares
Liquid measures:
1 bottle 0.7392 quart 720 grams 1 gallon 3.3265 quarts 3.34 liters
Dry measures:
1 fanega 1.575 bushels 55.5 liters 1 almud 0.1596 bushel 5.625 liters 1 cuartillo 0.0328 bushel 1.156 liter
Weights:
1 ton 2,028.232 pounds 920 kilograms 1 quintal 101.412 pounds 46 kilograms 1 arroba 25.353 pounds 11.5 kilograms 1 pound 1.014 pounds 460 grams 1 ounce 0.06338 pound, or 28.75 grams 1.014 ounces avoirdupois
1 adarme 27.78 grains 1.8 grams 1 grain[3] 0.7706 grain 5 centigrams
The following measures are cited for comparison:
American Metric Porto Rican cuerda 0.9701 acre 3930.4037 sq. meters Porto Rican caballeria 194.02 acres 78.608 hectares Cuban caballeria 33.16 acres 13.4202 hectares Haitian carreau 3.194 acres 12,928 sq. meters
[Footnote 1: 12 lines = 1 inch; 12 inches = 1 foot; 3 feet = 1 vara; 3 varas = 1 vara conuquera; 20,000 feet = 1 league]
[Footnote 2: A tarea is a parcel of land measuring 100 square varas conuqueras. It is the usual measure of land. 300 tareas = 1 peonia; 4 peonias = 1 caballeria.]
[Footnote 3: 36 grains = 1 adarme; 16 adarmes = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 25 pounds = 1 arroba; 4 arrobas = 1 quintal; 20 quintals = 1 ton.]
APPENDIX C
AMERICAN-DOMINICAN FISCAL CONVENTION OF 1907
CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PROVIDING FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF THE CUSTOMS REVENUES OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
_Concluded February 8, 1907
Ratification advised by Senate February 25, 1907
Ratified by President June 2, 1907
Ratified by President of the Dominican Republic June 18, 1907
Ratifications exchanged at Washington July 8, 1907
Proclaimed July 25, 1907_
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas a convention between the United States of America and the Dominican Republic providing for the assistance of the United States in the collection and application of the customs revenues of the Dominican Republic, was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at the City of Santo Domingo, on the eighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and seven, the original of which convention, being in the English and Spanish languages, is word for word as follows:
Whereas during disturbed political conditions in the Dominican Republic debts and claims have been created, some by regular and some by revolutionary governments, many of doubtful validity in whole or in part, and amounting in all to over $30,000,000, nominal or face value;
And whereas the same conditions have prevented the peaceable and continuous collection and application of National revenues for payment of interest or principal of such debts or for liquidation and settlement of such claims; and the said debts and claims continually increase by accretion of interest and are a grievous burden upon the people of the Dominican Republic and a barrier to their improvement and prosperity;
And whereas the Dominican Government has now effected a conditional adjustment and settlement of said debts and claims under which all its foreign creditors have agreed to accept about $12,407,000 for debts and claims amounting to about $21,184,000 of nominal or face value, and the holders of internal debts or claims of about $2,028,258 nominal or face value have agreed to accept about $645,827 therefor, and the remaining holders of internal debts or claims on the same basis as the assents already given will receive about $2,400,000 therefor, which sum the Dominican Government has fixed and determined as the amount which it will pay to such remaining internal debt holders; making the total payments under such adjustment and settlement, including interest as adjusted and claims not yet liquidated, amount to not more than about $17,000,000.
And whereas a part of such plan of settlement is the issue and sale of bonds of the Dominican Republic to the amount of $20,000,000 bearing five per cent interest payable in fifty years and redeemable after ten years at 102-1/2 and requiring payment of at least one per cent per annum for amortization, the proceeds of said bonds, together with such funds as are now deposited for the benefit of creditors from customs revenues of the Dominican Republic heretofore received, after payment of the expenses of such adjustment, to be applied first to the payment of said debts and claims as adjusted and second out of the balance remaining to the retirement and extinction of certain concessions and harbor monopolies which are a burden and hindrance to the commerce of the country and third the entire balance still remaining to the construction of certain railroads and bridges and other public improvements necessary to the industrial development of the country; And whereas the whole of said plan is conditioned and dependent upon the assistance of the United States in the collection of customs revenues of the Dominican Republic and the application thereof so far as necessary to the interest upon and the amortization and redemption of said bonds, and the Dominican Republic has requested the United States to give and the United States is willing to give such assistance:
The Dominican Government, represented by its Minister of State for Foreign Relations, Emiliano Tejera, and its Minister of State for Finance and Commerce, Federico Velasquez H., and the United States Government, represented by Thomas C. Dawson, Minister Resident and Consul General of the United States to the Dominican Republic, have agreed:
I. That the President of the United States shall appoint, a General Receiver of Dominican Customs, who, with such Assistant Receivers and other employees of the Receivership as shall be appointed by the President of the United States in his discretion, shall collect all the customs duties accruing at the several customs houses of the Dominican Republic until the payment or retirement of any and all bonds issued by the Dominican Government in accordance with the plan and under the limitations as to terms and amounts hereinbefore recited; and said General Receiver shall apply the sums so collected, as follows:
First, to paying the expenses of the receivership; second, to the payment of interest upon said bonds; third, to the payment of the annual sums provided for amortization of said bonds including interest upon all bonds held in sinking fund; fourth, to the purchase and cancellation or the retirement and cancellation pursuant to the terms thereof of any of said bonds as may be directed by the Dominican Government; fifth, the remainder to be paid to the Dominican Government. The method of distributing the current collections of revenue in order to accomplish the application thereof as hereinbefore provided shall be as follows:
The expenses of the receivership shall be paid by the Receiver as they arise. The allowances to the General Receiver and his assistants for the expenses of collecting the revenues shall not exceed five per cent unless by agreement between the two Governments.
On the first day of each calendar month the sum of $100,000 shall be paid over by the Receiver to the Fiscal Agent of the loan, and the remaining collection of the last preceding month shall be paid over to the Dominican Government, or applied to the sinking fund for the purchase or redemption of bonds, as the Dominican Government shall direct.
_Provided_, that in case the customs revenues collected by the General Receiver shall in any year exceed the sum of $3,000,000, one half of the surplus above such sum of $3,000,000 shall be applied to the sinking fund for the redemption of bonds.
II. The Dominican Government will provide by law for the payment of all customs duties to the General Receiver and his assistants, and will give to them all needful aid and assistance and full protection to the extent of its powers. The Government of the United States will give to the General Receiver and his assistants such protection as it may find to be requisite for the performance of their duties.
III. Until the Dominican Republic has paid the whole amount of the bonds of the debt its public debt shall not be increased except by previous agreement between the Dominican Government and the United States. A like agreement shall be necessary to modify the import duties, it being an indispensable condition for the modification of such duties that the Dominican Executive demonstrate and that the President of the United States recognize that, on the basis of exportations and importations to the like amount and the like character during the two years preceding that in which it is desired to make such modification, the total net customs receipts would at such altered rates of duties have been for each of such two years in excess of the sum of $2,000,000 United States gold.
IV. The accounts of the General Receiver shall be rendered monthly to the Contaduria General of the Dominican Republic and to the State Department of the United States and shall be subject to examination and verification by the appropriate officers of the Dominican and the United States Governments.
V. This agreement shall take effect after its approval by the Senate of the United States and the Congress of the Dominican Republic.
Done in four originals, two being in the English language, and two in the Spanish, and the representatives of the high contracting parties signing them in the City of Santo Domingo this 8th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1907.
THOMAS C. DAWSON,
EMILIANO TEJERA,
FEDERICO VELAZQUEZ H.
And whereas the said convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two governments were exchanged in the City of Washington, on the eighth day of July, one thousand nine hundred seven;
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said convention to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this 25th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-second.
[SEAL.] THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
By the President:
ROBERT BACON
_Acting Secretary of State._