The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-25
The Pacific Gable.

Tho recent grant by France Of large
subsidy for an ocean telegraph between
Queensland and New Caledonia seems to
have stirred up both Canada and the British
Government to the conclusion that some
thing must DO done about one.
For years the project Of laying wire
from Vancouver to Sydney or Auckland has
been mooted. but the chief obstacle to
carrying 1t out has been the reluctance OF the
imperial Government to assume as large a
part of the cost as the colonies desired. The
principal intermediate points along the pro-
posed route are Honolulu. Johnston Islands
or Tanning Island. both now British. Samoa.
and tho Fits. The colonies urged that
while they might be commercially benefited
by such wire. the imperial Government
would derive great strategic advantage
from It, which called for liberal subsidy.
Great Britain. however. reflected that she
already had telegraphic communication
eastward with Australia and westward
with British Columbia.
While this project was languishing.
France. which owns tho adjoining groups
OF New Caledonia and the New Hebrides.
lying between Queensland and the Fills.
granted $4,000 year for thirty years to
French company which proposed to
lay cable between New Caledonia and
Queensland. while $4,000 year each Is said
to have been fixed upon for Queensland and
New South Wales to contribute to the
scheme.
Naturally the British Government and
the Dominion have been little disturbed
by this undertaking. Canada may at first
seem to be benefited by the project. because
the cable to New Caledonia may turn out to
be only one link In a trans-Pacihc chain. the
succeeding link being to Fill. the next to
Samoa. the next to Tanning Island, tho
next to Honolulu. and the final one to
America. But all this would be done by q
French company. with Canada thus far
left out altogether. whereas for years
q Dominion company has been organized
for the purpose of having at least share
In the construction and the pected profits.
Above all. 1t Is left uncertain whether the
new cable. II extended. will land at Van
couver or In California; and should 1t
choose the latter region. British Co
lumbia. though more closely connect
ed with Australia than now. would be
wholly out OF the control and profits of
the enterprise. 1t was intended In the Do
minion that the Canadian Pacific telegraph
should take up the transcontlnental part Of
the route to the British Islands. whereas,
should California furnish the point of land
Ing. the line through the United States
might be chosen.
Again, In order to secure the terminus
for Vancouver. British Columbia might
have to bid high after all. France. without
haggling. accepts the conclusion that, in
ha fret nntr ~ Ah0
miles. between New Caledonia and Queens
land. she Is most interested. But there
must be a new deal with countries |
more Interested than she Is beyond |
that point. Thus the problem still con-
fronts both Great Britain and Canada, and |
In fact Is forced upon them. since the United |
States might next be invited to take |
part In the enterprise. We find suggestions |
from London that Australia Is unwise in |
Joining forces with France before finding
out whether Great Britain would have
granted subsidy. But Australia must be
rather tired OF waiting for the imperial
Government to act
All this. however. makes surer the con-
struction Of a full transoceanic cable.
Great Britain. with the Fills as the next
station on the proposed French line. sees
that she has chance of partly controlling
1t: and the unwelcome fact that q French
company begins 1t need not be fatal to
her interest in 1t. She remembers the Suez
Canal. recognizes that she possesses one ter
minus for the cable. with several inter-
mediate points In prospect. and could exert
herself to have the other terminus at Van
,ouver. Or she could begin at once cable
rom Australia or New Zealand to the Fills.
hus trying to stop the French company at
Now Caledonia.
Meanwhile. how does all this concern our
own country? ltindlcates. to begin with. that