The sun., 1897-05-03
A COALING STATION FREE.
coNCEsSIoN IN SANTANA BAY OF
FERED 10 THE UNITED STATES.


'@'n'''sr SnSthe was Negotiating the Protocol
ora Treaty with the President OF San De-
rninEo whon His Resignation was Accepted
He NAV m. co,,,,,., a., om.. c.- r,,,.
WAsHINaToN, May 2.-Tho United States has.
according to Henry NJ. Smythe, the former Min
ister 10 Hayu an opportunity to secure con-
cession from the republic OF San Domingo for
the establishment Of alcoaling station at samana
Bay or some other convenient harbor. Mr..
smythe is now In Virginia, very much exasper-
ated because his resignation was accepted before
nc had time to complete the main features Of tho
protocol Of treaty whereby San Domingo
granted FREQ OF charge site for a coaling sta
tion and several other commercial privileges
which this country has boon working to secure
for years. He now declares that he will not sur
render the protocol to the department. No one
has yet been appointed Minister. and as there is
not much Of contest for the place. Mr.. Smythe
may DO continued in Office until the protocol for
the possession Of the coaling station Is COM
pleted. Hero is what Mr.. Smythe says on tho
subject:
while at Portau- Prince last February ro-
ceived an official letter from Gen. Heureaux
asking me to visit his capital before returning
to tho United States. to receive an important
communication. I was In March instructed by
the State Department to proceed to San Domingo
on routine business and while there the Presi-
dent submitted memorandum informing me
that Gen. Gill would accompany me to New
York and represent his Government in any
negotiations which might result from his
proposition. The first written memoran-
dunn presented In the Dominican Foreign
oflce embraced tho following heads: Commerce,
navigation, extradition. and reciprocity OF in
tercst and concession Under this last division,
at my second interview, obtained from the
President tho concession for a coaling station
for the use Of the American navy during the
continuance of the treaty, ON the sole condition
that coaling facilities be allowed the Dominican
navy In American ports. This coaling station
IL to bo located at any point In tho Bay of
samana, or in either of two fno har-
bors east Of San Domingo, on the Caribbean
Sea- The President did not accedo to my sug-
gestion that he permit cases involving
tho rights of American citizens TO be referred to
q consular court, but said he would provide
mixed courts in American colonies or settle
ments, such as are being established In his ter
ritory, and grant exemption from duty for ten
years to new enterprises established by Ameri-
can citizens. He asks the removal or substan-
tial arnelioration of the import duties on sugar.
practically an American industry, and which
cannot oX1St unQer present conditions.
"whatever may be tho outcome of President
Heureux's q desire for closer relations with tho
United States, there is NO more question of his
absolute sincerity than there is of bis power to
carry into effect any convention he may make.
His country one of the richest In soil ON the
earth offers exceptional advantages to Ameri-
cans, who are now fiockinR to It In large num-
bers. The population docs not exceed $50, 900,
and It 10 capable of supporting at least 6,OOO,.
600, which believe 10 q lower estimate than
that Of Gen Grant, whose dream 1t was to obtain
control Of tho country by tho United States, or
at least o coaling station in Samana Bay for tho
American navy, which has scarcely q resting
place ON tho face Of the deep, and which Is now
offered without money and without price.
II make this statement in the simple hope
that O discussion of the question involved may
result to the benefit Of the United States and
with the positive conviction, based on q some-
what intimate knowledge OF the conditions there
and their relations to our commerce and policy,
that our Government should carefully consider
the obvious advantage Of this proposed conver-
tinn. On my arrival in washingtontwo weeks ago
made q verbal report to Secretary Sherman, be-
cause had not arranged the memorandum
submitted by President Heureux and hastily
taken in a notebook on the eve of my departure
"The Secretary, who appeared interested in
the matter, suggested that go home, and, after
had recruited my strength, make him a formal
report as to the proposed convention and the
general conditions In Hayti and San Domingo