New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-16

The United States have long desired. for naval. poi-
cal and commercial TO obtain station in the West
Indies Tho proposition which the Dominican Government
submitted grounds to expect that those desired
advantages might be secured by the United States through
some Arrangement with the Dominican Republic, which
would afford guarantee OF It's independence and
harbnger prosperity and welfare OF the Dominican Re
public.
Induced by these considerations, the Assistant Secre
tary Of State Frederick W. Seward attended by Rear
Admiral Porter United states Navy, on the 9th OF January
1867 proceeded the city OF San Domingo invested with
ample power conclude subject to ratification by the
senate OF the United States . convention with the Don
mean Republic for the ceson or lease OF the peninsula and
bay Of SANTANA provided that in the Judgment Of the As
sistant Secretary with the concurrence OF the Admiral
that peninsula should be found TO oer the advantages
which were sought
The Assistant Secretary authorized 70 offer 30 the
Dominican Government - 100000 payable one-haf In
cash and the other and munitions OF war as
con deration proposed ceson lie Instructed
10 require full sovereignty Of the United States over the
territory TO be coded lie authorized 10 part OF
the consideration money the cession should be
made and ratified by the Government OF the Dominican
Republic.
TIE Assistant Secretary cordially received ana
the Government the Dominican Republic entered very
frankly upon discussion OF affair with which he was
charged The Dominican Government expressed Wiling
ness and desire, 10 make some arrangement WIN
the United regard SANTANA which would provide
us with suitable naval hsrbO AMI coalng station but 1t
could not absolute sale OF territory without
ag an express provision Of the Constitution OF the DO
mnican Republic just adopted and it wpuld be ncohNe
nient 10 await amendments the Constitution The Donh
can Government therefore, proposed lease of the cages
Ieyantado which command the entrance TO the bay OF
Ssmano the of the adjacent waters together WIN
certain specified privileges the mainland OF the ph
sua. Their would not answer the purpose OIL
the United States The Assistant Secretary therefore
declined TO entertain that proposition and stated frankly
that wanted place at all unless 1t was one ha' We
should absolute control over while we owned H. one
which was large enough for our uss ana one wheh we
could hold. foftify and m1ntan against all enemies. -
The Assistant Secretary reported that as result OF all
the discussions it impractcable to conclude any d.
rapgenent at that with the Dominican Kepuolc OH
basis of the instructions OF the Department. INA. 'S
offered to concede only such privileges as 1t neeos no
treaty 70 obtain in any port civilized world space
for the yards buildings and so forth to be PAD
for by money. but not to be under our nag OF pro-
tected by our guns - -,
rb Assistant Secretary concluded that the project Of
selling or leasing the Peninsula Of SANTANA u the Unite1
states was one commended itself to the better
Judgment and sagacity the leading minds OF the Don
can Republic; that they in it relief from dangers
and msforunes that menaced them, and that they
fully compehended such transfer OF such on such
terms as the United States could Offer would De qe d.
advantageous to Dominica it would be TO the Unite1
States that they nevertheless reluctant 10 rsA '
responsibility of bold step fearing the pubic sen'
men or the popular preiado OF the dominican people
that the Span nvasion ana seizure O. SANTANA ma "o
dstrust foreign powers. dread oil Foreign designs '
ACKNOWLEDGMENT that tlnle aiid iedeoh "'"'' F y,
how unfounded these preudices were as regards inc O
States the one power whose and friendship wouu
save them from very evils which they dreaded ana lena
y ace and prosperity Republic hitherto the theatre Of
so many unhappy dscords
The President of the United States unwilling TO
relnouish his desire that the very liberal propositions
which the Assistant Secretary had made and which
had been disallowed by the Dominican Government
might yet, upon reconsideration. be accepted There
fore full power given 10 the commercial agehl
| of the United States at San Domingo. Authorizing
him 10 conclude convention for the cessOn OF tne
territory and waters in question, should he ind II prac
cable 10 do so upon the basis as that suDmtted
by the Assistant Secretary.
Negotiations which promised 10 be successful were
Subsequently terminated by a revolution, Dut were
resumed in 1865, when President BaeZ proposed 10
President Grant the annexation of San Domingo by
the United States.