San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-29
SAYS We SHOULD SEE THAT
BRITAIN KEEPS HFR HANDS
OFF PACIFIC ISLES
She Only Desires To Increase Hel
FortifieationS All Around Us
To Use Them To Advantage
At The Right Time, Is
His Opinion.
New York, July Pa special to the
Herald from Washington says:

New York, July Pa special to the
Herald from Washington says:
In support of their claim to Palmy-
ra Island, which has been taken pos
session of by the British government,
the, London authorities refer to the
fact that the Britich flag was hoisted
over this territory in 1889. Even If the
official records of the Hawaiian COVER
ment fail to show the title of the Dole
regime to the island, the United States
| is in position to raise the claims that
the island belongs to this government
by virtue of its discovery by an Amer
lean citizen. This fact is recognized
by the British authorities in an official
publication, which contains reference
to it's discovery and the action OF the
British in placing their flag over it.
The publication in question is the Of
fetal sailing directions of the hydro
graphic office of Great Britain, issued
by the admiralty.
In regard to the Palmyra Island the
volume states:
Palmyra was discovered by Capt
Sawle, of the American ship Palmyra
in 1902, and was formally annexed to
Great Britain by Commander Nichols,
on Her Majesty's ship Cormorant, on
May %, 1889. There were no inhabi-
tants on the island at the time of its
annexation, although Messrs. Hender-
son and McFarlane, OF New Zealand
contemplated cultivating it,"
A high official of the State Depart
ment said last night that an investi-
cation regarding the rights of Hawaii
and Great Britain to Palmyra island
would be made.
IF that investigation shows that the
Dole government has clear title to
the island" he declared, "this gov
eminent WILL of course, earnestly pro-
test against its acquisition by Great
Britain. So far as / have looked into
the subject, 1 have ascertained that
the Kanakas took possession of the
Palmyra island in 1882, but subsequent
ly abandoned it, although still declar-
ing their right to its possession"
A long report on Palmyra island was
made ia 1874 BY Commander ]. NJ.
Skerritt, who recently died in this
city. At the time Commander Skier
rift was incommand of the United Sta
ties steamer Portsmouth, which was
directed to make a survey of the is
lands of the Pacific. He described
Palmyra as being made up of about
sixty small islets, surrounded by
coral reef upon which as many as 49,
900 cocoanut trees are growing. The
lagoons between the islets were rapid
ly filling up as a result of coral forma-
lions and ultimately it is expected
the island will be level plateau, ele-
waited about six feet above the level of
the sea-
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, said
that he had not examined into the
question of the validity of the Hawaii
an title to Palmyra island and was
not prepared to express a definite \pin- |
on on the subject, though he was in |
,lined to think 1t was a matter of COM |
oaratively small Importance Do the |
United States whether Great Britain |
lad the island or not on account of its |
distance from the United States and |
Hawaii.
"If Great Britain has occupied that |
sland," said he, ut is because she
n her policy of surrounding this coun-
~ WITH InlllldTyh StdllOHS. lHlS SON-
should carefully investigate
he question as to the right of the Ha-
riian government to claim jurisdiction
yer the island and If that claim is
yell founded, the proper course would
e, after this government has acquir-
d title to the Hawaiian Islands, to
all upon Great Britain for an explana-
ion of her action in occupying Ha- {
Yaiian territory. I think the island I
yould be of little or no use to the (
Inited States unless 1t should be desir-
BILE to hold it to prevent it's being
lade the base OF operations against In
s. regard 1t as of the utmost i'm
ortance that we should annex the Ha- ~
-aiian islands as a bulwark against '
ne rising tide of orientals." Il
The action of Great Britain in TAX :
* possession of Palmyra island at S
lis time is generally regarded here as
step in her Jubilee year policy Of I