he terms of which the United States was
to take charge of the custom houses of the Dominican Republic,
adjust and liquidate its debt, and generally to take charge of the
fiscal affairs of the Republic. By the terms of this protocol, it
was to go into effect February 1, and there was no provision at
all for Senatorial action. Senator Bacon and other Democratic
Senators became very much aroused over this as a usurpation of the
rights of the Senate. Resolutions were introduced, calling upon
the State Department for information, and the subject was considered
by the committee at several meetings.

I confess that I too was considerably surprised at the action of
the State Department, and I called on Secretary Hay one morning
and asked to be informed as to the facts.

Secretary Hay stated that he would communicate with me in writing,
which he did on March 13, 1905, saying:

"In answer to your verbal request, I submit herewith a statement
of the facts with reference to the making of the Santo Domingo
protocol, and enclose herewith a copy of the protocol of January
20, 1905. That protocol was not drawn up by the Department of
State and was never seen by any of its officials until it appeared
in the newspapers on January 22d last, as given out by the Dominican
officials. The Department has never authorized its signing; it
never gave any instructions authorizing its signature; and no full
powers had ever been given authorizing the signature on the part
of the United States Government. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Dominican Republic visited Washington during the Spring of
1904, and during a stay of nearly three months repeatedly solicited
the assistance of the United States Government for the restoration
of order in the island and for the regeneration of his country,
but the responsible officials of the Department advised against
meeting his request, and the President, to whom the matter was
referred, decided against taking any action as long as it could
wisely be avoided.

"The Dominican Government again brought the matter to the attention
of the United States Minister at Santo Domingo the latter part of
1904. In the meantime an investigation had been going on quietly
by our Government through Commander Dillingham, to obtain information
as to the real condition in the island. After the President became
thus familiar with the situation there, and on the report of the
United States Minister, and after repeat