Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-02
GENERAL GRANTS GREAT SCHEME
ABOUT TO DE REALIZED.
SANTANA BAY COALlNG STATION.
Protocol of Treaty Prepared by
Ex-Minister smythc-Washingto I'm < on
News Notex-Rnin Prevents Ball
PIaying-"spiders" Disappointed.

which he had substantially agreed upon
with the Dominican Government when.
by the unfortunate blunder of an as
sistant Secretary Of State. Cridler by
name. his resignation was accepted. Mr..
! Smythe had returned from his post,
which he was forced to leave on account
Of yellow-fever on sick leave. granted by
the department. When he called recently
to pay his respects. Mr.. Cridlor, with
considerable temper, asked him why he
had not remained in San Domingo TO
| press the Omanza bridge claim. Mr..
| Smythe replied that he had pressed 1t,
| but II was a matter that would take
months. instead Of weeks TO adjust. The
! French Government had been nearly two
| years adjusting a similar claim, and only
! concluded 1t by an utimatum, backed by
fleet. Mr.. Smythe had in a dignifed,
| but more positive manner. Informed the
| President of the republic that the claim
must be paid. and he was assured by
the latter that when IT had been reported
upon by his Attorney-General be would
enter into negotiations with him. This
was all Mr.. Smythe could do before he
|
! had to leave on account Of the yellow
fever. and he returned home by permis-
sion Of the department, In very bad
health.
The day following the Cridler episode
Mr.. Smythe called to see Secretary Sher-
man, who received him very cordially. lie
Informed the Secretary that he was the
bearer of protocol from President
Heureaux. of San Domingo, whereby the
United States would obtain possession Of
Samana bay for coaling and naval sta
tion for the United States without the
cost of dollar. This had been General
Grants great dream. He had endeavor-
ed TO acquire possession of the entire
country by purchase. as he regarded the
bay as a most important acquisition to
this country, in case of a foreign war.
| Secretary Sherman seemed to be de-
lighted at such a successful stroke of
diplomacy, and requested Mr.. Smythe to
make him a full report on the subject
as soon as his health would permit. Mr.
Smythe replied that he would do so, and
the next day left for Asheville, ~ c., to
| recuperate his health. Imagine his sur
prise when he found In the mail a few
days afterwards a letter from the State
Department, accepting his resignation.
OF course, Mr.. Smythe now declines to
give the department the Dominican pro-
tocol.
Ii is probable that Secretary sherman
TO this day does not know that Mr..
Smythe has been relieved and that a
very grave diplomatic blunder has been
committed under his very nose and at
the outset Of his administration. l have
taken the trouble TO investigate this
whole matter and have received from
Hon. Henry NJ. Smythe reply, in which
he says:
THE PROTOCOL.
'Tn answer to your direct question, and
with a knowledge OF the deep interest
you manifest in everything affecting the
foreign relations of the United States, !
will give you an outline OF the unfinished
protocol submitted 10 me by General
Heureaux. President Of the Dominican
republic, for presentation TO my govern
ment as the basis Of d new treaty be-
tween the two countries. On my arrival
in Washington / made verbal report 10
Secretary Sherman, because L had not ar
ranged the memoranda submitted by
President Heureaux. and hastily taken
in a notebook on the eve Of my depar-
ture and the Secretary who appeared in
terested in the matter, suggested that l
20 home, and after 1 had recruited my
strength, make him a formal report as
to the proposed convention and the gene
raj conditions in Haiti and San Domingo.
Now, inasmuch as the acceptance OF my
RESIGNATION. rendered the 9th Of March.
has released me from the obligations OF
my position deem it at least permissi-
bic 10 give you for the press the inIor-
nation you desire, although | can only
surmise the source from which you ac-
quired a knowledge OF the matter IN
question.
"While at Port au Prince in February,
I received an official letter from General
Heureaux, asking me TO visit his capital
before returning to this country. 10 re-
ceive an important communication. was
I'm March instructed to proceed to routine
business. and while there the President
submitted the memoranda alluded TO, IN
forming me that General Gill would ac-
company me TO New York and represent
his government in any negotiation when
might result from his proposition. The
frst-written memoranda (already pre-
pared in the Dominican foreign once
embraced the following heads and Ill
vlsions Commerce. navigation, extradi-
ton, and reciprocity of interest and con-
cession.
COALING DEPOT.
"Under this last division. at my second
interview. | obtained from the President
the concession Of a coaling cepot Tor the
use of the American navy during the con-
tinuance of the treaty, on the sole con-
dition that 'coaling facilities be allowed
the Dominican navy in American ports.
This coalng station is 10 be located al
any point in the Bay of Samana, or in
either of two fine harbors east OF san
Domingo. on the Caribbean Sea. The
president did not accede 10 my sugges-
tion that he permit causes involving the
rights of American citizens TO be re-
ferred TO q consular court. but SAID he
would provide mixed courts In American
colonies or settlements. such as are be-
ing established in his territory ana grant
ererontion from duty for ten years 10
new enterprises established by American
citizens.
"He asks the removal or substantial
amelioration of the import duty on sugar,
practically an American Industry, ana
which cannot exist under present condl-
tions. BE the outcome OF President
Houreaux's desire for closer relations with
the United States what IL may, there is
no more question of his absolute sincerity
than there is of his power to carry INTO
effect any convention he may make.
"IIis country, one or the rlchest III
soil on earth, offers exceptional adVan-
tages TO Americans. who are Hooking 10
IL in large numbers. The population does
not exceed 10000. and 1t is capable OF
supporting at least 100000, which. l be-
lleve Is a tower estimate than that OF
General Grant, whose dream 1t was 70
obtain control of the country by the
United States. or at least coaling sta
tion in SANTANA Bay for the American
navy which has hardly resting p ace
md
now offered without money and without
rrica