The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-11
Monte CristI and Washington

A rumor or report OF the negotiations
which Commander DILLINGHAM has been
carrying on at the Dominican port Of
Monte Cristi, backed by Admiral SlGsBEE
and a small big stick squadron, reached
the State Department at Washington day
before yesterday. The Commander him
self reached there yesterday.
According to the Washington CORE
Eponden, of the Nem York Herald, the
State Department was not surprised TO
learn that an effort had been made TO
take possession of the custom house at
Monte Crsti. The explanation of the
absence of surprise in the State De-
partment, according to the Heralds
despatch, is this:
Under the arbitration award made last juno
the United states agent Mr ABBOTT, to whom was
Entrusted the collection OF $4,000 for thr Santo
Domingo Improvement Company IS empowered to
take possession Of the four Dominican custom
houses az Puerto Plata. SANTANA. Monte Crls,l
and Macoris he took charge OF the custom house
Al Puerto Plata months ago and It Is thought that
he may have asked Minister DAWSON and Ad
nlra sIosBBR to assist him IN getting tha, al Monte
Crist"
This alleged supposition Of tho State
Department is in line with other ex-
plantations from the same quarter de
signed to create in the public mind the
impression that whatever has been done
IN Santo Domingo since Feb has not
been done under the unratfed Diling-
ham-Sanchez treaty of Jan. %, but
solely by the authority and under the
terms of the award last summer by the
Commission of Arbitration which con-
sisted Of Judge GEORGE GRAY, the Hon.
JOIN G. CARLISLE and Senior MANUEL
DE }, GALvAS.
Unfortunately, the person speaking
for -the State Department on this oc-
cason seems 10 have been unaware of
the physical proximity of the Mr. ABBOTT
who was thought to have asked Minister
DAWSON and Admiral SIGsBEE to assist
him in getting possession of the custom
house at Monte Cristi He was in fact in
New York. Just arrived from Santo Do
mingo. Furthermore, by singular and
somewhat Illuminating coincidence, he
was almost at that very hour saying:
Under that award which was FOR the settle
rnent Of the claims OF the sanio Domingo Improve
meut Company. wG5 designated to administer
the customs receipts OF the port OF puerto Plata.
and II they were insufficient. then was authorized
under the award take tho customs receipts OF the
pors OF sanchez. Samsna and Monte Crsu Asa
7ahtr Of iaei has ocen necessary 10 90 beyond
me ron n Purrto pidfa. That port honestly adj
rlnlsierrd and with the grating competition NJ
the othet north shore ports eliminated. uGl BE- ore
hon suTefenf 10 meet all mc p1oncv demands required
under he ardrd"
Has the taking possession by our Government
on Feb OF ali The rouinlcAn ports anything 10
do with the award under which you have been
acting Puerto Plata" Judge ABBOTT was asked.
Nothing whateyer" he replied An the Dom,ni
can ports were taken Ia charge by Minister DAWSON
on she st OF February undsy aud ~ authority Of ne
bGIineh17 .No1chsi prafoca OF Ian. 70 ipas When
/ Say that Minister DAWSON took charge OF all rhc
Dominican pons on the Is, of February. ruean
that he took charge Of all OF those save Puerto
Plata and Monte Crieti. lie did not take charge
OF Puerto Plata. OF course. because am already
administering that port ander the award Of Iuly "A.
1905 - to Monte CTisu. the day / len Santo
Domingo. rob ,. Admiral SiasBEE and Commander
bilNoHss were negotiating with The citizens
there and had 10 douht when left that the nego-
uAiioms would b. successful
Yeo tee' tse situation Is 70 Monte Crsu Is peou.