The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-06
WEST INDIES
SUGAR INDUSTRY
The Decay of the Colonial
May Be Used to Get
Protection.
An Agitation That Is Not at
All Relished in British
Ministerial Circles.
1t May Cause an Alteration in the
Commercial Policies of the United
Kingdom.

LONDON, Eng, Dec. 5.-The agitation
in favor OF the West Indies sugar industry
has acquired large political interest in
England and bids fair to become an init
alive toward revival of protectionism.
In ministerial circles the agitation is
not at all relished. The Ministers know
that an increasing body of their support
ers are eager to seize the decay of the colo
NAL sugar industry as leverage toward
revival of protection generally. Lord
Salisbury, while the last Conservative
Government was in power, determined in
favor of what was termed reciprocity"
or some system that would check the de-
structive interference of Dounties upon
the colonial produce.
1t will be recalled that the London con-
ference, presided over by Baron Henry de
Worms, now Lord Pirbright, discussed this
question of reciprocity, and after long sit
tings arrived at no conclusion giving a
remote indication of how to balance con-
flicting interests. Now that the foreign
bounty system threatens the absolute ex-
tinction of the colonial sugar trade, the
Conservatives want decisive legislative
action.
The predictions in English free trade
quarters that the European countries
would get tired of paying bounties to give
England cheap sugar are proving false.
The fear now is that once the extinction
of British colonial products is accom-
plished, the British consumer will find
himself in the power of Continent tai rings
which will raise prices at their will.
The situation has become so acute with
such far reaching possibilities of an alter
alton in English com mercial policy that
the representative of the United States
Associated Presses has felt it advisable to
interview some of the chief men con-
cerned in the agitation. T. L. Ohlsen,
secretary of the West India committee,
stated that the chief consideration of
Government commission would be RENE
dial measures for the distress in the West
Indies, and connected Herewith the
granting of imperial loans administered
through the local Governments on certain
conditions of interest, etc., to planters
who improved their estates. The West
India com mittee was in constant consul
tation with the Government, urging it to
call a conference, and had reasonable
hopes that the influence OF Mr.. Cham ber-
lain would be exerted on their behalf.
The committee was also in communica-
ton with prominent foreign politicians
and commercial bodies. Regarding the
question of the annexation of the British
West Indies 10 the United States he knew
that among the planters there was strong
feeling that they would be better treated
if absorbed by the United States.
Touching this subject of annexation
Neville Lubbock. when intervie wed, said
if the West Indies were to be ruined ana
England was determined to continue her
cheap sugar, leaving the West Indies to
starvation, there was going to be much
rioting and bloodshed. The educated
masses, growers and others whose money
and interests were in the islands were
nearly all patriotic Englishmen.
But there was increasing feeling anon
them that in the event of the refusal OF
England to assist, there was but one alter
native-the annexation of the islands to
the United States. They would prefer to
remain English, if they could, but not at
the cost of entire ruin.
The United States would not allow an
industry so valuable to the American peo-
pie 10 be destroyed, and when the time
came for the West Indian colonies of
Great Britain to be taken over by the
United States as the colonies seemed to
be worth nothing to England, she could
not offer to sell, but must give them to the
United States. West Indian sugar enter
ing the United States duty free would suit
the American people and restore the
finances of the islands to tiourishing con-
dition within a few years.