The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-28
Tho Islands of the Pacific.

The recommendation ofGovernor THURS
TON OF Fiji that Great Britain should raise
her flag over the remainder OF the Gilbert
Islands. should create no surprise. The
whole group was practically seized during
the summer OF 1892, when Capt. Z. II. NJ. DA-
Wis OF the gunboat Royalist landed at Blu
taritar hauled down the flag of King TEBU-
REIMoA and put the union jack in Its place.
The King had then just returned from
San Francisco which he had visited in order
to send letters to Washington. urging a
United States protectorate over Butaritari
The Government did not act on the applica-
ton. and TEBUREIMoA reached his island
homo just In season to see 1t annexed by
JOHN BULL. The truth was that Great
Britain and Germany had parcelled out the
long chain OF islands in that part OF the
Pacific. the former taking the Gilbert and
Ellice groups and the latter the Marshalls.
the Carolines. under the decision of Pope
LEO, as arbitrator. going to Spain.
Accordingly. not only did the Royalist
visit and take possession OF the greater
part Of the Gilbert or Klngsmill group. but
the Curacao. shortly after. proclaimed
British protectorate over nine islands OF
the Ellice archipelago. while Capt. ROOKIE
VI tuo SunhplOu luSduWlllo duutAeu JONI
ston Islands. which an American guano COM
pany had occupied over thirty years earlier.
The gobbling up OF Gardner and two other
Islands OF the Phoenix group. east of the
Gilberts. completed Great Britain's SELF
ures In the Pacific for that season.
Therefore. the news now brought by the
merchant ship Helen W. Almy that Great
Britain is to hoist her flag on the remainder
OF the Gilberts is not at all surprising. Nor
should it be surprising to hear that the
Americans. who so largely controlled the
copra trade. find their business slipping
away. as the influence OF tho new Govern
ment is thrown In favor OF British traders.
But what the tldings may properly sug-
gest Is that when other nations not only
GUST Americans from their footholds in the
Pacific. but create a Gordon OF naval out
posts there. 1t is time to look after Ameri-
can interests In that vast ocean domain.
Six years ago Mr.. BAYARD gave Mr.. PEN
DLEroN a summary OF what European
nations had then recently been doing to ac-
quire the naval aud commercial control OF
the Pacific:
The year 1854 witnessed the occupation BY Ger.
many OF the northern side OF New Guinea from Cape
King William TO AstToAbs Bay the imperial nag being
uoisteu polntA Almost colncidentlH
Great Britain occupied the south coast OF the island
and In the months of November ana December In the
same year seized and occupied the LOuisiAds Eroup
WoodlArk Island. and Long and Rock Islands.
I'm the following year arose the dispute between
Germany Ane spain the CArolinsA which was ter.
minated BY the protocol signed Rome the 18th OF
December. 1885 under which Germany Ackno WIedEsd
the sovereignty Of Spain over these islands the
fslsW groups and they have now passed nnAlly under
spanish control
RuF
oihsEs OF which the seizure by 1886 OF the
New Hebridss not the most significant On the
oth OF April Of that year joint declaration was made
By Germany and Great Britain which eontsm plated
Inc absorption BY those two powers OF almost all the
territory in that OF the Paeide Ocean
jailed the West Pacific. Hing between the fifteenth
isgree OF north and the thrtsth degree OF south l
uds And between the hundred and sixty-nfth de-
rec OF longitude west and the hundred and thir-
isth degree OF longitude east OF Grssnwieh. watch
lad not already been occupied By some foreign
'ower Through that part OF the PAeine included In
hose bounds Of latitude and longitude OF division
SAs drawn to mark the respective spheres OF British
ma German innusnee and AnnsxAtien and each Joint
selATAnt agreed not 10 make any acquisitions Of ter
iEory nor TO establish PrOtsetOrAss oppose the
osTAtions Of the other In the sphere OF action re-
psetissly assigned t0tL
+" Under this declaration ana agreement. from which
AmoA. Tonga. and Nine bland were excepted and By
be line OF division drAEn As shove stated Rs1 Ire
and New Britain. and the adjacent western half OF
he solomon group passed under the dominion OF
'srnAny Aad certain Islands OF the line 20 Great
,rttAin.
"os the lat OF August in the same year the latter
A0ssfnmsnt took possession OF the KsrmAdso IsaudH
Aa ey the imperial decree OF the 18Th the ensuing
-oA'e the Marshall Brown. and ProVidsnes IalAnds
"a sFoaps Esrs 0eeuPsd ~ Germany.
- ss@ Fssult Of shat has been above astAilsd OF
ns 'aA AggreEAts OF territory In the Pzeine, bus =
~ AAHd grouPs, containing = few thousand square
1i'~ remain to-daJ a. independent And 1aton0noaa"
nevertheless. eleven months ago good
ortune brought TO America almost as il In
'e"ard OF her self-denial. a full cOmpensa-
aon for all these grabbings and pareellinRs
~ distant European powers. Hawaii. the