The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-21
Policy NJ the Administration in the Yves,
Indies.

Policy NJ the Administration in the West
Indies.
We published yesterday a glowing account
of the reported lease of the Bay of SANTANA,
island of St. Domingo, by the United States
government. which was communicated to us,
and also letter from Washington of the same
tenor, announcing the arrival at New York of
General Babcock and the Dominican Commits
sion on board the United States steamer Albany,
for the purpose of negotiating fifty years
lease with our government for the Bay Of
SANTANA. There is some discrepancy between
the two statements. One has it that the bar
gain has been completed, and that the United
States flag now floats over that portion Of the
Dominican territory; while the other says the
Commission has arrived for the purpose of ne
gotiating lease. Then, again, it is stated
the territory embraces an area of two thousand
five hundred square miles when II appears
from q reliable communication from our cor
respondent at SANTANA that it is only estimated
at two hundred and twenty-five to two hum
dred and forty square miles-that is, the
length is about thirty miles and the breadth
eight miles, including the islands along the
coast
IT Is particularly worthy of notice, too that
in the same paper in which these statements
appear, that is, in our issue Of yesterday, was
| published the news Of st. Domingo having
negotiated loan with British capitalists, for
seven hundred and ffty-seven thousand pounds
sterling, on the condition that st. Domingo
hypothecntes the entire proceeds Of receipts
from imports and exports at the ports Of st.
Domingo and Puerto Plata, as well a. the
royalties from the working and export Of guano
from the island of Alta vela, and in addition
to the revenues arising from coal and other
minerals, and mahogany and other woods, from
the peninsula of SANTANA. II this be true the
cunning Dominicans are playing q nice game
with both the United States and the British,
and all on this strip Of territory called SANTANA,
with its bays, harbors and islands II they
would only sell out some other, or some of the
same privileges to France, Spain and Other
European countries, it would make as nice |
middle in the future as any one could wish ts
see. This SANTANA business has all the appear
ancs Of a big job or, may be, number o
jobs
But why lease the Bay of SANTANA at all
Why give hundred and Fifty thousand dollars
In gold year for fifty or a hundred years TO-
lease? 1t may be said and indeed II i
sad this is only an entering wedge for tn
ultimate acquisition Of SANTANA or the who'll
island. What miserable policy for might.
republic like this to enter upon Wha
wretched peddlingl 1t is utterly unworth.
any great nation, and particularly the Unite
States, which Is the dominating Power of thi
hemisphere. If we want SANTANA, or any par
Of the island of st. Domingo, let us buy 1t am
have no further trouble abont the matter, 0
any possible dispute hereafter our govern
ment appears to be the tool Of any insgnincan
ruler or country or clique Of spectators.
seems incapable Of q comprehensive policy, c
; acting with foresight with regard to the futur