New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
VEST INDIAN NAVAL STATIONS

| Idle rumors respecting attempts on the parp
of the United States Government to obtain the
lease or cession of SANTANA Bay as naval STA
ton are explicitly denied by the Dominican
| Legation in Washington. The State Depart
ment, it is stated with positiveness, has not
taken the initatYe in any negotiations on tnat
subject, nor has the Dominican Government
made any offer for the sale or surrender of any
portion of It's territory. These denials, taken
in connection with the collapse Of Admiral
Gherardrs conferences with the Haytian au-
thorties respecting st. Nicolas Mole, exclude
for the present the acquisition OF naval sta
ton on that island. For our part we are re-
| lieved by the failure of the project which mas
been strongly favored IN naval circles for ac-
quirng station in that quarter. IL Wit no1
be good policy for the United States UoV-
eminent to assume the responsibility OF OBTAIN
| ing the cessiOn of any territorial waters III
| Latin America II would involve the necessity
of intervening on one side or the other IN the
civil strife that is constantly arising IN Santo
Domingo It would also be Interpreted by Latin
| America generally as an indication that the
! United States was drifting into the stream OF
territorial annexation. 1t is not for the interest
of the Nation that so false an impression should
be created. Americans do want fair share OF
the commerce of Southern countries, but they
do not desire 20 interfere with the political con-
ditions of Spanish America.
The great bunder which was made by the
United States in relation to naval station
in the West Indies was the reputation of the
treaty for the cesSiOn of the Danish Islands
That policy originated with Secretary Seward
but received the full approval of President
Lincoln. The negotiations were begun in Jan
uary, 1866, between Secretary Seward and
General Raasloff, the Danish Minister. During
the Civil War the necessity of having naval
station in the West Indies was demonstrated.
The open hostility Of England to the United
States, the preference given to blockade-rm-
ners and Confederate privateers In coaling
privileges at the British West Indies and the
enforcement of the twenty-four hours rule
against our yessels-of-war in neutral ports were
constant sources Of embarrassment in our naval
operations Secretary Welles finally succeeded
in establishing cOaling-yard at ST. Thomas,
the Danish Government being most friendly
and helpful to the Union cause. That island
became the centre of our naval operations in
the West Indies, and its utility and strategic
position were so marked that President Lincoln
favored its purchase. The negotiations were
interrupted by his assassination and Secretary
Stewards INJURIES but were resumed in 1886
and after more or less haggling over the price
the islands of st. Thomas and st. John were
purchased by treaty on October "a, 1867. The
question of annexation to the United States
was submitted to the voters of the islands and
approved almost unanimously. The treaty was
I,,'n O,,I felo dc co1
from allegiance to the Crown; but owing to
the conflict which had arisen between the Adj
ministIaton and Congress the bargain was
never carried out.
Without reference to the political contro-
lersies which determined the rejection of Sec
Rotary Stewards treaty, it must now be evident
to any one familiar with the West Indies that
the failure % obtain st. T<omas was serious
misfortune. For the purposes Of naval sta
ton it is altogether superior to either SANTANA
Bay or st. Nicolas Mole. The harbor is circular
in shape completely landlocked except at the
entrance, and most admirably adapted for de-
fence. Not only are the headlands at the en-
trance high and precipitous, but the hills back
Of the town command the harbor. ST. Thomas
could easily be converted into another Malta,
and it lies at the apex of the West Indian group
on the direct route TO Brazil, and is in strategic
relations with the Spanish Main and the en-
frances TO the proposed interoceanic canals. The
population of the Danish group is the most
orderly and peaceabe in the West Indies. There
would not be the slightest difficulty in govern
ing the islands.
The reasons which convinced President Lin
coin that st. Thomas ought to be occupied by
the United States as a naval Power are as vali(
to-day as in January, 1865. We do not say
that it is necessary to obtain by purchase thest
islands; but we are convinced that it would be
i wiser to reopen negotiations with the Dansl
p Government than to attempt to get footholt
P in hotbed of revolution like IIayti or in Z
= country extremely jealous of its territorial right
like Santo Domingo. 1t would be reparation
: moreover, for an act of wanton injustice to Den
+ mark, 10 take measures for acquiring the island
Y even az this late day. There was a lamentabl,
:. lack of good faith displayed by the United
q States in it's dealings with that brave littl
~ maritime State.