New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
PROTECTION OR ANNEX1TION
ENGLAND'S ALTERNATIVE IN REGARD To
HER WEST INDIAN ISLANDS.
SUGAR PLANTERS ALTHOUGH PATRIOTIC, WOULD
PREFER TO BIZ JOINED TO THE UNITED
STATES THAN BIZ RUINED BY THE
BRITISH HOBBY or FREE TRADE


A GROWING FEELING
OF DTsCoNTENT.
rondon. Dec J-Sincc the dispatches Of the
United Associated Presses In November an
nounced the beginning Of the agitation In favor
OF the West Indies sugar industry. the matter has
acquired large political interest in England. and
bids fair to become an initiative toward the re-
vlval of protec,ionlsm The Commission o! Inquiry
proposcd by the Government is held on all sides
as q mere staving off of a subject which de-
mands urgent settlement In Ministerial circles
the agitation is not at all reshed The Minis
iers know that an increa-iry body or thelr sup
porters are eager to seize the decay OF 'he
colonial sugar industry as leverage toward II
revival Of protection generally Lord Salisbury
while the last Conservative Government was in
power. declared in favor Of what was termed
"reciprocity.' or some system Of ccunterVaillnG
duties which would check the destructive in
Auence Of foreign boun;ies upon the colonial
produce.
II will be recalled that the London conference
presided over by Baron Henry de Worms. now
Lord Pirbright. discussed this question Of reel
procity. and. after long sittinss. arrived nj no
conclusion giving a remote indication Of how 20
balance the conflicting interests. Now that the
foreign bounty system threatens the absolute
extinction of the Colonial sugar trade. the Con-
cervativcs want decisive legislative action. The
predictions In English frec-trade quarters that
the European countries would get tired OF pay
inC lounties to give England cheap sugar are
proving false The fear now Is that. once the
extinction Of British Colonial sugar products ~
ACCOMPLISHED the British consumer Will ma
himself In tho power of Continental rings whch
viii raise prices at their will. The question has
become so acute and interesting. with far-reach-
ing possibilities OF alteration In Engiish
commercial policy. that the representative or
the United Associated Presses has felt IT ad-
yisable TO see some OF the chief men concerhcd
I'm the agitation. ]. l.. Ohlsen. secretary o' the
West India Committee. said that one OF the
recommendations Of a Government Commission
was sure TO be the placing Of a duty OF t. per
ton on all foreign sugar Imported mo ENG
land Tho chief confederation OF the Commits
sion would be remedial measures for the distress
In the West Indies and connected herewith the
granting OF imperial loans administered
through the local governments on certain con
ditions of interest e,c). to planters for impfoV-
ing their estates The West India Committee
was in constant communication with the Gov,
eminent. urging II 10 call conference ana ni'
reasonable hopes that the influence oi NJ
Chamberlain would be exert"d on tLclr pehiI,.
The committee was also In communication WIN
prominent foreign politicians and coininerchi
bodies. q,
Regarding the question Of the annexation oi
the british West Indies to the United states
he knew that among the planters there was a
strong feeling that they would be better trcateu
If absorbed by the United states. go
Touching the subject Of annexation. NeVliic
Lubbock when seen said IL the West lndics
were 10 be ruined and England was determined
10 have her cheap sugar leaving the west
Indies TO starvation. there was certain To be
| much roting and bO9dshcd. The educated
classes growers and others. whose money ana
interests were in the islands. were nearly all
patriotic Engllshmen. But there was an IN
| creasing feeling among them that In the event OF
the refusal of England to assist. there was but
one choice the annexation of the Islands to the
United States They would prefer to remain
English II they could. but not at the cost or
financial ruin The United States would not
allow an industry 80 valuable to the Americah
people to be destroyed. and when the time comes
for the West Indian Colonies Of Great Britain
TO be taken over by the United states. IT could
! not be n question of purchase by the United
| states AS the colonies seemed to be worth moth
/ ing to England. she could not offer to sell. but
must give them to the United States. West
Indian sugar entering the United States duty
free would suit the American people and re-
store the finances Of the Islands to nourishing
condition within few years.