Western Hemisphere 59
controlled by Spain and, later, the Dominican Republic. However, specifics were
absent and later addressed in a treaty at Aranjuez on June 3, 1777. Article I of that
treaty specifically drew a line along the mouth of the Massacre (also called Daxabon)
River and the Pedernales River.
Details were explicit and the uncertainty surrounding the border was somewhat
allayed. However, when Haiti and the Dominican Republic became entities separate
from France and Spain respectively, border uncertainties grew and disputes mounted.
After all, possession of Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital, changed hands repeat-
edly in the first half of the 19th century.
Considering the changing times and circumstances, the 1776 agreement seemed
increasingly unsatisfactory and vague. Multiple accords were signed, one in 1867 and
another in 1874, aimed at settling the border. These did not resolve the issue and a
conference aimed at revising the 1874 treaty broke down on May 29, 1883. Another
protocol eventually came on May 1, 1895, and two more followed on April 18, 1898,
and May 28, 1899.
Nevertheless, another dispute over jurisdiction of the river Massacre came in 1901,
nearly bringing the two sides to war. War was averted by a new convention on June
17, 1901. The treaty again delineated the border and called for a mixed commission of
Haitians and Dominicans, which aimed to help determine the respective jurisdictions
of the area. The treaty called for setting up masonry pyramids from the mouth of the
river to the Bay of Mancenille, going as far as Dajabon-Ouanaminthe (at the conflu-
ence of Massacre and Capotille), but it went no further.
MID#1207
Dispute Number: 1207
Date(s): April 2, 1912 to July 1, 1912
Participants: 41 Haiti/42 Dominican Republic
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Beginning in April 1912, the Haitian government was surreptitiously
smuggling rebels across the border into the Dominican Republic. Once across the
border, the rebels occupied a small strip of territory that was claimed by both govern-
ments. This was so problematic because the two countries were working out their
differences over demarcation of the border with the help of the United States starting
in 1911.
During these negotiations, the two sides agreed to maintain the status quo in order
to settle the boundary dispute; therefore, the negotiations were in jeopardy due to the
Haitian occupation of Dominican territory. In addition to the problem of the occu-
pation, there were problems collecting customs at the customs houses. The United
States warned that it would take steps to ensure that custom duties would be correctly
collected. The occupation lasted until July 1912, when Haiti relinquished the territory
back to the Dominicans—partially due to difficulty holding the territory and partially
due to pressure from the United States.