Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-07
VOICES or THE PRESS.
Can We Acquire SANTANA Bay?

The statement attributed to Mir.
Henry NJ Smythe our late minister I,
Hayti and charge d'affaires in SAN Do
mingo. that the latter republic is nov
entirely willing TO cede us coaiinj
station on SANTANA bay. comes as
surprise. The surprise is increased,
possible. by the further statement tina
the concession is free or rather is to b
part of a general reciprocity treat,
which san Domingo would like to max
with us, such government vessels a.
she may have. being allowed, of course
to coal in our ports.
The project Of acquiring a naval sta
ton in san Domingo is more than 2
quarter of a century old, dating back L
the first administration of Presiden'
Grant. when ii took the form, however
of a proposed annexation Of the wholt
republic. The Dominican government
having indicated its assent 10 such I.
scheme. Gen. Grant sent Gen. Babcoci
to the island to make the negotiations
and he brought back a treaty. unde
which we We're to give fixed sum fo'
the island. A vote taken in San Do
mingo was overwhelmingly in favor
annexation, but our Senate rejected il
After that. public opinion in the is
land seemed to undergo change.
all events. when. in later years. a gram
was made tn private American com
pany Of land and privileges in Samana
bay. an cutlery was raised in the islanC
that the concession to the syndicat,
was really a preliminary to annexation
If it had been it would only have proved
81, ,r.,1 az \, fnt,
Domingo had been more eager than we
However, a concession made in 1871
soon lapsed, from a failure by TIT
grantees to go on with its conditions
1t has been said that Hayti. from
whom we sought in vain to acquire
Mole st. Nicolas. when SANTANA ha.
appeared to be beyond our reach, madt
a treaty with San Domingo, in which
the latter agreed not to cede any par
of her domains to a foreign power
Hayti has very steadily refused even t.
give us a lease Of Mole st. Nicolas: and
as she occupies the smaller portion of
the island, she might naturally fear tc
have power like the United States es-
tablished on the island.
Yet these historic facts do not in
themselves throw doubt on the opinion
attributed to Mr.. Smythe, that Sar
Domingo stands ready to accommo-
date us now. Annexation, itself once
welcomed by that republic. is quite
different from the cession of harbor
and as to the alleged agreement with
Hayti, it is said that San Domingo
considers it 10 longer binding. IN
doubtedly it would not be serious
obstacle to the cession of a cOaling sta
ton to the United States.
The question. then arises, whether we
desire such a cession. AS the story
runs, San Domingo will give us either
SANTANA bay or one of two other sites.
SANTANA bay is valuable for its extent.
its sheltered anchorage and its strategic
position. Mole st. Nicolas was desir-
able for it's situation on the Windward
passage at the west end of the island
while SANTANA bay, at the northeast
corner. opens into the Mona Pass, an
important entrance to the Caribbean
sea for vessels from Europe, and the
route traversed also by merchantmen
passing to South America, between San
Domingo and Porto Rico. AT the wes-
tern end it receives the chief river of
San Domingo. the Yuma. while the bay
lis big enough to hold the war fleets of
the world.
The point ON it we should select for