Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
An International Combination to
Lay One.
NEGOTIATIONS SAID 70 Be IN PROGRESS
What is Said at the Hawaiian and
Japanese Legations.
THE INTEREST OF FRANCE

the United States and Hawaii by the COM
bined enterprise Of Russia, France. Japan,
Hawaii and the United States.
According to story sent out from Wash
ington a number Of conferences have been
held with the officials of the Japanese lega-
ton here, and several phases of the subject
are now under negotiation between Toxic
and Washington. Minister Kurino is rep
resented as much interested in the project,
and 1t is said that five or six of the most
influential and wealthy Japanese merchants
will be named among the incorporators.
European Governments Interested.
France mas also been interested, and in
the course Of the negotiations she has made
a significant suggestion to Hawaii to the
/ effect that French interests will be better
subserved by having the cable go via the
United States, instead of the Vancouver
route, which would be controlled by Great
Britain. The chief interest of France is
in securing cable connections with Tahiti
and her other Pacific possessions and with
her naval rendezvous, which is now cut off
from communication.
Russia's interests in the project are re-
garded as even more important than those
of Japan or France. Russia's cable COM
munication with the western hemisphere is
now westward through London or Paris,
and this filtering of all her news and Off
cial messages through London in particu-
laT mas long Deen a source OF lrr1tauOn. Inc
Russian imperial family already have a
cable from Vladivostock, the easterly point
of Siberia, to Japan, so that the new line
would give Russia through cable communi-
cation eastward, instead of through London
or Paris The military and strategic i'm
portance of this is very great, for, should
Russia be arrayed against the triple al
lance, she could not communicate west
ward to the outer world, but could always
maintain communication eastward to the
United States and to France.
The American Branch.
The foregoing gives the international
scope of the enterprise. The American
branch is described as being on similarly
broad lines. Admiral John Irwin, United
States navy. who wrote the notable report
when in command of our fleet In Hawaii.
and Gen. Roy Stone are said to be prin-
|cipal!y interested in the enterprise in Wash
ington. With them are associated, it is
stated President Alvord of the Bank of
California and the vice president of the
bank, also the president and vice president
OF the San Francisco chamber of COM
merce; John d. Spreckles, son of Claus
Spreckles: Herman Oelrichs son-in-law of
the late Senator Fair, and other millionaire
capitalists.
The principal work of organization is be-
Ing consummated here in Washington.
What Minister Thurston Says.
The Hawaiian minister to the United
States, Mr.. Thurston, said he was cog
i,izant in general way only of efforts on
the part Of private individuals to establish
a cable between the United States and
Hawaii
1.-The Hawaiian government will look
with favor upon this or any other PROPOSE
ton for cable communication with the
world" said Mr.. Thurston to Star re-
porter today. What We want first is a
cable, preferably in connection with the
United States. because our business inter-
ests lie that way, but, at any rate, cable.
Any proposition looking to this end will
receive the aid of the Hawaiian govern
ment to the extent of its ability, meaning
by that its financial ability and the reccg-
milton of treaty obligations"
1t is understood that there is still another
possibility of cable to Hawaii. 1t is stat
ed in diplomatic circles that the French
government has intimated to the Hawaiian
government desire that the Hawaiians
should not be too quick to close negotia-
tions for an English cable. 1t was limited
in this connection, it is said that there is
a possibility of France extending her New
Caledonia cable to Honolulu. The French
government now aids, by subsidy, cable
between Australia and the Island of New
Caledonia. From this point it is but
distance Of about 5000 miles to Honolulu.
Whichever government gets its cable to
Honolulu first will have practical monop-
oily for several years, because there will
not be enough business for two lines, and,
moreover. it will have the start toward
the extension OIL the CdDlo from HAWAI- 10
the west or south.
At the Japanese Legation.
Mr.. X. Matsui, the first secretary Of the
Japanese legation, smiled skeptcally when
his attention was called to the advanced
state Of the negotiations locking toward a
Pacific cable.
Such an idea has been considered for the
past five or six years." he said, but moth
ing definite has ever been formulated. l
do not believe the statements that wealthy
Japanese capitalists are interested at pres
ent in the incorporation Of such a company.
Neither do 1 believe that Minister kurIno
has had any communication with the Sec
retary of State on the subject
Have there been any conferences with
officials of this legation upon the matter?'
inquired The Star reporter.
Mr.. Matsui smiled again. None, 1 as
sure you," he replied amably. "All the
statements published regarding the ap
preaching completion of preliminaries in
this regard are something new to me- and
1 cannot believe there is much in them