Office of the Historian

839.918/6

The Chargé des Affaires in the Dominican Republic (Brewer) to the Secretary of State

Santo Domingo, January 22, 1920.
[Received February 17.]
No. 542

Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegram of January 12, 5 p.m., No. 1, and my telegraphic reply No. 3 of January 16, 2 p.m., I now have the honor to enclose herewith copies of the Executive Order No. 385 of January 15, 1920, abolishing the censorship, but prohibiting the publication of articles or the making of speeches in public places of a certain nature, violators of these prohibitions being subject to trial and punishment by the Provost Court.

I have [etc.]

John Brewer
[Page 163]
[Enclosure—Translation]

Executive Order No. 385, January 15, 1920, of the Military Government of Santo Domingo, Relaxing Censorship

By virtue of the powers vested in the Military Government of Santo Domingo the following Executive Order is dictated and promulgated:

1.
The censorship in Santo Domingo is hereby abolished and the order entitled “Censorship” appearing in the Official Gazette No. 2758 and all other laws, decrees and orders establishing a censorship are hereby repealed.
2.
In order to prevent disturbances of the public order, all persons are forbidden to publish articles in magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals, handbills, or any other publications or to make speeches in public of the following nature:
(a)
Those which teach the doctrines now commonly known as Bolshevism or anarchy which, under the present circumstances prevailing in the Republic, may lead to unrest or disorder.
(b)
Those which teach doctrines or practices contrary to public morality as understood by all civilized nations.
(c)
Those which are so hostile towards the Government of the United States, its policies and its officers, or so severely critical of them as to incite the people to unrest, disorder or revolt.
(d)
Those which are so hostile in tone towards the Military Government, its policies and officers, civil or military or which are so severely critical of them as to incite the people to unrest, disorder or revolt.
(e)
Those which hold up to scorn, obloquy or ridicule, the conduct of the United States Government, of the Military Government, or of their officers, in such a manner that they tend to create disorder or revolt in the Republic.
(f)
Those which describe present conditions in Santo Domingo in a manifestly unfair or untruthful manner and in such terms as to incite the people to disorder.
3.
The rights of assembly and free speech shall not be interfered with except as necessary to preserve order.
4.
Violation of the above prohibitions shall be considered an offense against the Military Government and the offender shall be subject to trial and punishment. The author of the speech or article, the publisher thereof and all persons knowingly aiding or abetting the writing, delivery, or publication thereof shall be considered as parties to the offense and punishable therefor, and this shall be [Page 164] taken to include all persons responsible for or having control over the magazine, periodical, newspaper, or other publications in which the article shall appear, or over the place or hall in which the speech shall be made.
5.
In addition to the above punishment and without derogating therefrom, the publication of any magazine, newspaper, periodical or other publication in which articles violating the prohibition of this order may appear may be suspended or prohibited and any hall or public place in which speeches violating this order are made may be closed.

Thomas Snowden

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
Military Governor of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo City, D.R.,
January 15, 1920.