Buenaventura Báez makes even more vigorous overtures…

Buenaventura Báez makes even more vigorous overtures to foreign powers to establish a Dominican protectorate.

Both France (Báez's personal preference) and the United States, although still unwilling to annex the entire country, express interest in acquiring the bay and peninsula of Samana as a naval or commercial port.

Consequently, in order to preserve its lucrative trade with the island nation and to deny a strategic asset to its rivals, Britain becomes more actively involved in Dominican affairs.

In 1850 the British sign a commercial and maritime treaty with the Dominicans.

The following year, Britain mediates a peace treaty between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.