South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-08
DOMINICAN BAY
WANTED BY j. s.
Offers Finest Landlocked Har.
Dor Anywhere to be Found
in Americas.

International News Service:
ACuTNETON Nov Thu

1 International News Service:
WASHINGTON. Nov. S.-The re-
opening OF negotiations looking to
the acquisition by the United States
Of the Dominican bay or SANTANA
revives interest in a subject which
in one form and another has en-
listed the attention Of the United
States for more than so years.
AS long ago as Pres't Grants ad-
ministration the bay could have been
acquired by the United States for
mere song but the project was block
ed By Sen. Charles Sumner of Mass
achusetts. who mustered sufficient
opposition to prevent the deal from
going through.
Later when James G. Blaine was
secretary Of state he carried on
long but unsuccessful negotiations to
secure the bay. which he declared
would afford rendezvous capable
Of accommodating all the battle
fleets Of the world. If these previous
attempts had met with more sympa-
thetic interest on the part Of con-
gress the now coveted handbook bay
would have been the property of the
United States for a consideration
far less than that which the Domin-
lean republic now purposes to exact.
Unoficially, il is understood that
the Dominican foreign office has ap-
preached American Minister Rus
sell with a proposal for 99-year
lease 10 the United States govern
ment. In return the United States
would assume the Dominican bond
ed debt, construct a long stretch of
railway or the government and pay
an annual rental of 100000.
But naval authorities agree that
SANTANA bay affords the finest land
locked harbOr anywhere TO be found
in the western hemisphere. The
navy strategists therefore believe
that no price is too high to pay for
West Indian real estate. now that
the protection Of the Panama canal
has come 10 be one OF Uncle Sans
biggest problems.
In Pres't Grants time, the DOmin-
lean government sought annexation
of the island republic to the United
States. At that time a commission
appointed by Gen. Grant made a
report on the advantages of Amer
lean acquisition OF SANTANA bay. In
that report. which is among the
archives of the state department.
SANTANA bay is described as con
many accounts the most important
i'm the West Indies"
"It is" the report continues cat
the northeastern extremity Of the
island Dominican republic): is 80
miles long by about o miles broad
and is sufficiently cOmmodious for
the largest fleets. 1t is well pro-
tected from the winds, especially
those of the northeast. by the
mountains of the peninsula. It's en-
trance presents no obstacle 10 ships
Of the largest draught. is narrower
than that of the harbor of St.
Thomas. but is the more easily for
tilted on that account. AS shown
by Gen. Mcclellan in his report on
this bay, very simple Notifications
at the entrance to the harbor and at
Port Jackson on the north shore
would guard il thoroughly.
Its situation gives it easy COM
mand of the Mona Passage. the
most important eastern avenue of
the Gulf of Mexico; whose i'm
portance will be immensely en-
HANGED should any new passage be
opened to the worlds commerce
through the Isthmus OF Darien. To
any power having occasion TO main
tain fleet in the West Indies. and
especially TO the United States as
having vast interests 20 protect in
the gulf of Mexico. the value of the
position as a coaling station cannot
he overrated. Under a secure and
liberal government a city would
grow up at some point on this bay
which would be one Of the great
commercial centers Of the West
Indies"