The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-27


probability that such a recommended
tion would be favorably considered by
the next Congress than there was that
the last Congress would favorably act
upon il.
Case of Gross Ignorance.
1t is no more possible that the re-
commendatiOn of the president as to
the British cable shall receive favor
able action in Congress than it is for
any other i'm possible thing to happen.
The request on behalf of Great Brit
ain was made on commercial grounds.
1t was assumed by the president that,
if this cable be laid, it would be avail
able for the use of the United States
in all circumstances. This assump-
tiOn is based upOn gross ignorance of
the situation, of the geography of the
island, and of the policy of Great
Britain. The British government
makes this request in order that it
may secure q military cable in the
Pacific ocean as it has one in the At
lantic ocean, and almost everywhere
else.
If this cable should be landed in
Hawaii with the consent of the United
States it would be found that, If an
emergency arises, the United States
could not send q single order for a
movement of any of its war-hips over
it Great Britain seeks with this
cable to strengthen its military arm.
The Canadian Pacific railroad was
built as a military highway. The
line of steamers which connects with
that railroad at its western terminus
on the Pacific ocean is another addi-
tiOn to the military power of Great
Britain. This cable which the British
70 10
Vancouver, the western terminus of
the Canadian Pacific railway, to the
Hawaiian group is designed as an
other military agency of the British
government. The object of this cable
is not for commercial usage only. If
it were q cable designed for CONNER
cial use, why should il not be landed
at Honolulu, where the commerce of
the Hawaiian Islands Is and where it
could be landed without in any way
infringing upon this ancient treaty
between the United States and Ha-
waii, and where the consent of the
United States government would not
be require d? If the British govern
ment desires to lay a strictly COM
mercial cable between Vancouver and
Honolulu it would have no difficulty
in doing that. The Hawaiian Repub.
lie, undoubtedly, would very prompt
ly grant the necessary permission
and no request would be necessary
from any foreign power.
The Real Purpose.
But the island of which the cession
is requested or upon which the Brit
ish government wishes to have the
authority and the permission of the
United States to land this cable, is
simply rock in the ocean, about
quarter of a mile long There is no
harbor to it. 1t is inaccessible even
to a small boat, except in profound
calm. It is a rocky bluff situated
where it is absolutely inapproachable
to commerce. No ship can ever go
there. 1t would require vast sums of
money to prepare a harbOr which
would make it possible for ships even
of the lightest draft to approach this
rock. II is absolutely nothing but a
rock. If the telegraph cable station
should be made there it would be of
no advantage to the commerce of
Honolulu or to the commerce of the
world. Ships could not land there.
A special cable must necessarily be
laid from that point to Honolulu
afterward in order to make the cable
of any advantage whatever. But if
it is to be military cable subject to
the absolute control of Great Britain
under all circumstances, it can be
we'll understood why the British
government desires to have that
desolate, barren and isolated rock
under it's control. The object is to |
make the cable military cable sub |
ordinate to the interests of Great |
Britain, so that it can command the |
Pacific ocean and also be at the near |
est point to the western outlet of the |
canal.