The New York herald., 1874-09-08
IL tho Monroe Doctrine sumcients

Is tho Monroe Doctrine sumcients
In April, 1868, the Prussian steam sloop-of-
war Augusta WAS anchored in the Bay of
Limon, Costa Rica, and, after thorough in
vestigation of the bay and adjacent country,
its captain recommended it to his government
as a proper place for erecting depot and naval
station. In May, 1868, the Prussian Consul
at San Jose, at the suggestion Of Captain
Kinderling. addressed an official note to the
government of Costa Rica, declaring that his
government would, in all probability, open
negotiations with Costa Rica for grant OF
the Bay Of Limon, and asking that no con-
cessions should be made to other foreign
Powers for period of six months. In May,
1868, the Costa Rican government refused to
enter into negotiations, declaring that its ira
ditional policy forbade it to make any special
concessions to any government whatever.
This prompt refusal was no doubt due in great
part to the influence of the American Consul,
Mr.. Morrell
In 1869 Germany, with less formality, but
with more energy, endeavored to obtain from
the ST. Domingo government the right to es-
tablish naval station at the Bay OF Samana.
It was about this time that President Grant
sent General Babcock to st. Domingo. In
1871 commissioners were sent out to examine
and report upon the condition OF the island,
with view to its annexation by the United
States. In the same year the President, in
message to Congress-, said :-'I believed, fur
ther, that we should not permit any indepen-
dent government within the limits Of North
America to pass from O condition of indepen-
dence to one of ownership or protection under
a European Power" Previously, in 1870, with
full knowledge of what Germany was at
tempting, he had declared 81 now firmly
believe that the moment it is known that the
United States have entirely abandoned the
project OF accepting as part OF its territory,
the Island of st. Domingo, a free port will be
negotiated for by European nations in the Bay
of Samana." In 1869, in his first message,
the President said :-''These dependencies
are no longer regarded as subject to transfer
from one European Power to another"
These facts, and the documents which sup
port them, were published in the HERALD of
yCotCAuhy, ouu No AOW ooA VAOIAAOAS LA IAO
light they threw upon the subject, the report
that Germany desires the cession of Porto
Rico from Spain is as ridiculous as Secretary
Fish pretends it is? Germany has already
made two attempts to acquire possessions in
the West Indies. and why should q third at
tempt be looked upon as absurd? A new ele-
ment, too, is introduced into the case It is
not whether we shall permit an independent
American government to cede territory to
Europe, but whether the colonial possessions
of one European government shall be trans
ferred to another. Spain and Germany may
claim the right to thus dispose Of Spanish
island in the West Indies, and in that event it
will be necessary to inquire how far the Mon
roe doctrine covers the new case, and whether
Grants Interpretation of it, as declared in his
message of 1869, will be accepted by European
Powers. We are we'll assured that the trans
fer of colony from one European nation to
another will be regarded by Americans as
practically the same thing as the acquisition
of independent territory.