The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-15
PAGo PAGO HARBOR SHOULD BE OURS.
Tho Moderation orthe Uuited states In Seek
ing Foreign F0otholds


ing Foreign Footholds.
WASHINGTON. Aug 14.-Had the policy Of the
United States in regard to maintaining colo
MES and foreign possessions been other than
1t is. scores OF islands In the Pacific might be
American in ownership to-day. The case OF
Johnston Island. to which attention has Just
been called by the British annexation OF 1t.
although Americans have long been Its occu-
pants. Is only one OF q considerable class.
Years ago. before the minor isles OF this
ocean had greatly excited the cupidity OF
European nations. American missionaries
and merchants estn iished themselves on not
few Of them. arb laid a good foundation for
right OF ownefship by occupation. at least
where no superior right existed. The develop
ment OF the guano trade and other trades In
creased these occupations. In fact. upon some
OF the wel-known modern German maps may
be found. here or there. an island gravely as
signed to the United States. although our Gov
eminent claims no political sovereignty over it
Had this country gone into the business OF
insular annexation ut all. the maps OF Poly
nesia would have different aspect
But while this anti-coonial policy has not
been abandoned. the eIigencies OF modern
maritime changes. in which steam has taken
the place OF wind as the motive power. and in
which war ships are diminishing and losing
by degrees oven the auxiliary sail power Mt
first relied upon. have brought new needs.
Tho United States Government is forced to
seek foreign coaing stations for its ships. 1t
seeks stations that shall be open to it in war
as we'll as in peace: for under the rules Of
warfare neutral by furnishing coal to bel
ligerant renders itself liable to be held to ac-
count as the latter's ally. Thevery fact that the
United States. though bordering on the Pacific,
has made no attempt. in more than century
OF existence. to annex any OF its islands, but
has left the distant nations OF Europe to scram-
BILE for their possession. should at least sug-
gest to European Governments the propriety
Of allowing us to claim o part OF the few
places which the United States may secure by
priority Of treaty and lease for coaling sta
tons. The present need OF such stations
arises from having refrained hitherto from
making annexations outright: and. moreover.
the stations which have been acquired are to
be simply held under lease. with the sovereign
ty remaining in the islands themselves.
That is one reflection suggested by the re-
cent statement that John Bull. who already
sprawls all over the Pacific and possesses all
Australia and New Zealand. besides various
archipelagoes. nevertheless wants to crowd
into the port Of Page Pago. where We have
acquired coaling station In the entire
Pacific We have sought and secured only two
stations. the one at Pearl River harbor. in
Oahu. of the Hawaiian group. and the other at
Pago Page harbor. in Tutuila. OF the Samoan
group. The former is expected to be especially
useful In cruises north OF the equator and the
latter in cruises south. In fact these. with the
privileges OF PichilInQue Bay in the Gulf OF
California, comprise our entire outfit OF coalng
stations. as far as is yet publicly known. the
world over
England. on the other hand. has such sta
lions in great numbers. In the Pacific she not
only has her Sydney and Auckland. but she
has the Fiji islands. which are the very mex.
Jump to the Samoan. and only q few days
stenming from them. With tho Fills already
in her possession. and for that matter. other
ports in Samoa open to her. the idea OF her
pushing into Pago Page harbor il preposter-
Gus. This latter is practically the only Ameri-
can coaling station in the Pacific. since Pearl
River harbor is not ready for occupation. and
can only be made read y for its fullest use by
laying out a good deal Of time and money In
improving the entrance.