The herald., 1897-07-29

hold such protest, and the officials be-
lieve that it will result in the removal
of the British flag from the island should
1t prove to be territory really belonging
to the Hawaiian group.
So far as the officials have been able
to learn up to the present time, Palmyra
Island was occupied a good many years
ago by number of Hawaiian citizens,
who raised the Hawaiian flag over the
territory. The island was first discov-
cred by the famous British navigator,
Captain Cook, who afterward lost his life
in the Hawaiian Islands. An American
corporation known as the Phoenix Qua
no Company located on the island some
years ago and built sheds and a wharf,
and removed therefrom all the guano
deposits. When these deposits had been
exhausted the company abandoned the
island. leaving the sheds and wharf
standing. According to the Hawaiian
government, Palmyra Island has never
been surveyed, so its extent cannot be
accurately estimated 1t was known
some time ago as Americus Island.
Naval officers say Palmyra Island
could easily be converted into a coaling
station by Great Britain. The British
government, they declare has been anx-
ious to obtain posse ssion of a coaling
station in the vicinity of Hawaii, and
would have been glad some years ago
to have obtained possession of Pearl
Harbor. had not the American govern
ment stood in the way.
This and other facts which have come
to the attention of the State Department
officials and naval officials, convince
them that Great Britain Is desirous of
obtaining some poin't in the Pacific
which could be usefully employed both
graph station
Nothing definite can be determined,
however, until the authorities are in
possession of more information than
they now have. 1t is expected that Min
lister SewalPs mail report, which will ar
rive in Washington the latter part of the
week, will contain additional facts, and
| its receipt is being looked forward tc
with great interest. An official of the
Japanese legation, in discussing the
seizure of Palmyra, said:
"The Japanese government Is in total
ignorance of this act of the British. 1t is
rather an amusing thing to us, on the
whole In one of our protests against
the annexation treaty it was predicted
that the greed of territorial acquisition
would revive in the progress of the de-
bate on the question. Our prediction has
thus far come true in an entirely unex-
pected way. OF course, Japan has no in
terest in the proceeding, but may derive
some amusement at the consequent en-
tanglement of Great Britain with the
sponsor and protector of Hawaii, the
United States"
| AN ANCIENT POSSESSION
LONDON, July 2S.-With reference tc
the reported seizure by Great Britain o.
Palmyra Island, Polynesia, it is off.
cialy stated that the island has beer
British since 1883. The. report is sup
posed to have arisen from the fact tha
H. M. S. Wild Swan called there last
May on her periodical visit
BRITISH CLAIMS ADMITTED
WASHINGTON, July 2S-State de
partment officials say that no new, issu
| is presented by the seizure of Palmyra
island by the British some days ago b.
an incoming vessel, for Great Britaif
has maintained claim to the island fol
the past nine years. The island is sait
to be in the Polynesian group, and al
though Hawaii has asserted a claim tc
its possession, our government has no
been strongly impressed with the valid
ity of the claim. Meanwhile, the Brit.
ish, it Is said, not only have asserted 6
claim to it, but have actually occupied
the island for some years past In view
of the probable annexation Of Hawai-
by the Urited States, the matter will
doubtless receive close attention in the
future at the hapds Of the state depart
ment, but it Is not expected that the
subject will prove to be difficult of ad
justment, particularly in view of tht
fact, as stated by naval officers, tha
Palmyra island is nothing more than 4;
barren rock in the Pacific, distant 10Ot
miles from Hawaii.