Office of the Historian

File No. 839.00/1963

The Secretary of State to Minister Russell

[Telegram]
Department of State,
Washington, December 9, 1916, 6 p.m.

Dominican Minister Perdomo presented to Department on December 6 [4?] note of protest against action of United States based on Knapp’s proclamation.

Protest founded on four points:

(1)
That United States had always recognized sovereignty of Dominican Republic;
(2)
That if Dominican Republic had increased internal debt contrary to Convention, United States should have resorted to legal means;
(3)
That United States had no right to interfere in domestic unrest in Dominican Republic;
(4)
That no state of war existed between United States and Dominican Republic.

Note ends by stating that United States has violated international law and principles of Pan Americanism and that Dominican Republic will reserve its rights which it will vindicate at proper time.

Endeavor to ascertain at earliest possible moment if such instruction, or any instruction to make protest, was sent Perdomo by Henríquez or any member of his government.

Reply by cable.

Lansing