New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-08
"HER MAJESTYS" SECRETARY TALAS'
SUGAR BETS ANNEXATION. AND no" 'hE
WHOLE AMERICAN NAVY COULD Dr.
NOTIFIED UP IN PEARL HARBOR

SUGAR BETS. ANNEXATION. AND HOW THE
WHOLE AMERICAN NAVY COULD BE
yorTLED UP IN PEARL. HARBoR.
Washington. June ! (SpeciaD.-Captain julius
Palmer. who made flying trip across the con-
,irent has returned 10 Washington and resumed
his duties as secretary TO Her Majesty inc eH-
Queen Of Hawai-. He spent week In san fra"-
cisco and while there evidently gave Some at
,entlou to the sugar beet industry Of California as
an indirect influence tho abrogation OF the
Hawaiian treaty and the question OF annexation
Captain Palmer is as strongly opposed 10 a''heAi-
ton as Her Majesty" herself. and also just Us
hopefii that eventually the monarchy VIII DC re-
stored But he talks frankly on the subject. anu
makes the sugar beet an important faotor 80 10
sneak in the future destiny Of Hawaii Il found
rho sentiment against annexation very strong IN
California" said the captain In Il conndeh< ZONE
1T is growing rapidly. too. and II the question
were put to-day California would undoubtedly go
against annexation OF course sclf-interest IL al
the bottom Of 1.-THE sugar-beet business for one
thing This ia going be great business out
there The Spreckels men have gone into II on an
immense scale. They will soon have as great
sugar business In California beets as they nave
had In Hawaiian cane. Why. even now the
Spreckels men do not care whether the grass
grows in the streets OF Honolulu or not for in
short time their money making will be In Califor-
MIA anyhow. AS TO the abrogation OF the treaty,
CT course the Hawaiians want to go on sending
sugar here free OF duty. But the sugar-beet people
of California naturally desire to have the treaty
abrogated.'
Captain Palmer did not say that the presence OF
| the ..Spreckes men, In Washington just at this
time had anything to do with the abrogation OF the
treaty But he expressed his opinion OF Pearl
| Harbor from u decidedly pessmistic point OF view
so far as the Pearl Iiarbor cession goes he
| said 1T really makes no difference whether the
treaty is abrogated or not. Pearl Harbor Is abso-
lutey of no value TO the United States. and never
will be OF the least value The Government might
spend millions of dollars there and 1t would De
throwing just much money into the sea.
know all about 1t. for went with experts who
made a thorough examination Of Pearl Harbor.
| And know something about ships, too7-hoding.
as do. the highest certificate OF master or cap
tain In the merchant marine service ., ,,,o
Here the ex-Queen's secretary paused, opened the
drawer OF his desk and took out his certificate,
Sence Of twenty years service and his right to the
title of captain Then he continued The experts
Improvement OF Pearl Hsrbor would he. Even If
the bar of sand across the sntrance could be
another bar would soon be formed by the action Of
Ss a. " us wa. Anchored 0S n
IIarbor. ] could so UP there In the night. sink a
dynamite n could ever remove and thus preysst the
exit OF a single man-of-war Where would your
With the American Navy in a state OF siege In
Pearl Harbor. the situation was not easy to grasp
sSme Fl sss apaa fs
about the plans of the Court" Her Majesty's
plans still indefinite" he replied She may
remain IN Washington some time. possibly year
or she may go away almost any day. She Is pleas
antly situated. and likes Washington One Thing
however is quite definite; Her Matesty is not go
ing over TO the queens Jubilee. and has no inten-
ton whatever Of going abroad. As for myself
have no definite plans, either. about accompanying
Her Majesty when she leaves Washington. But
am quite independent. having family ties IN
Boston or business interests there TO prevent me
from going further with Her Majes.' II she should
desire services"
But, with all that is vague, and indefinite abou,
the Court" there are excellent grounds for the
| statement that neither Her Majesty" nor Sccre-
tary Palmer will leave Washington while Congress
Is in session. with the probability OF taking up the
| question OF annexation.