To the Country

Title

To the Country

Creator

Vásquez, Horacio, 1860-1936

Identifier

WWP18141

Date

1913 October 31

Description

Horacio Vasquez writes about the revolution in the Dominican Republic.

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Relation

WWP18209, WWP18211

Text

Translation of Enclosure mentioned by Mr. Peynado, in Memo of Dec, 6

Translation—CSL

Santo Domingo, D,
October 31, 1913.
“TO THE COUNTRY.”

STATEMENT OF HORACIO VASQUEZ,
————————————

In order that interested persons and the country in general may be exactly informed as to the reasons which decided me to accept as a last resort the peace pact signed on the 6th instant between the Commissioners of the Revolution and the government of the capital, I state in detail herewith, in a brief manner, the facts and circumstances as developed during the process of the negotiations.
To begin with the arrival at Puerto Plata of Mr. JM Sullivan MP of the United States, who, in the name of his government made the following statements to the Revolution:

—(1) That the Government of the United States had decided to end the existing revolution and to prevent fresh uprisings

;(2) That all its power and strength would be used to sustain a Constitutional Government;

(3) That it would assure proper guarantee for the final and definitive control of government by a majority of the people;

(4) And that it engaged solemnly to effect, during the approaching winter, that the present Provisional Government of the Republic should be succeeded by one chosen by means of an honorable and suitably protected election.
To these statements the Government of the Revolution replied in a dignified and correct manner, setting forth the causes which had brought about its protest and maintaining in every degree the justness of the expressed requirements.
The Minister made verbal reply to these declarations, to the effect that he could not enter into details as his diplomatic orders in the matter were general; but offering the influence and guaranty of the American government for the securing to the revolutionary party of the objects sought, namely, constitutional reforms, free elections, carrying out of the budget law, etc.
With this understanding, the Minister left for the Capital, and it must be that his information or instructions to the Government were either completely contrary or erroneous, since the Government thereupon sent a Commission for the purpose of taking over— in accordance with the statements of the Minister, so it was said— the occupation of this place and all others held by the Revolution.
Believing that this was due to a misunderstanding, we resolved to send to Santo Domingo a commission composed of Messrs Domingo Ferreras and Leonte Vasquez, in order to clear up matters, and, at the same time, if possible, to sign a peace pact strictly along the line of the conditions proposed instructions given to them.-pointer-type="Note">
1. This commission, not being able to arrive at an understanding with the Government of the DCapital, within the time limit in the instructions-pointer-type="Note">1 designated, signed a peace pact ad referendum, which was not regarded as satisfactory by the Revolutionary Government and which, in the first instance, it did not wish to agree to.
Under these circumstances occurred the the capitulation of Samana and the departure of the Chief of Operations of the Revolution in Sanchez, who pretended that he could not continue in this peosition since the Revolution was obligated to accept the pact signed by its Commission, ignoring the fact, (as clearly as set forth in the declaration,) that the said pact had been signed ad referendum, and that it would have been entirely legitimate for the Revolution to decline to agree to it, if it were not favorable to its interests.
In view of these facts and others whose citation would be needless, I—Desirous as always of demonstrating that in appealing to arms I am making a great sacrifice, and that in war, as in peace, my only desire is the welfare of the Republic;
Considering further, that while xxxxxxx greater efforts might being about a triumph of party arms, but also would precipitate a conflict in the Republic;

(1) I Found myself forced at the last moment to accept the pact which had been signed by the Commission of the Revolution, and to abandon the attitude in which I had been placed by the protest whereby I had only sought to end the evils to which I had made allusion in the a previous declaration.
In returning to a citizen’s career, to the tranquil and honored life of the fireside, if I am accompanied by fresh disappointments and the resigned feeling of beholding the Nation subject for a time longer — to baleful influences, — I am also accompanied by the satisfaction of having shown my compatriots how to fulfill the sacred duties of patriotism, and also how useless great sacrifices become, etc. etc

HORACIO VASQUEZ.

Original Format

Letter

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00675C.pdf

Tags

Citation

Vásquez, Horacio, 1860-1936, “To the Country,” 1913 October 31, WWP18141, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.