On the same day that General Wessin y Wessin attained temporary power, President Johnson ordered US marines into Santo Domingo. The first reason given for intervention was to protect endangered American lives, but official statements soon added the motive of preventing a Communist government from gaining control in the Dominican Republic. The US response to the situation was massive; within a few days a force of 24000 men sent to the island. The contingent was reduced when, under US pressure, the Organization of America State ,with several member dissenting, authorized the dispatching to Santo Domingo of an Inter-American Peace Force. However, troops from five other countries made op only approximately one-sixth of this peace force, the balance being US troops already in the republic