Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-02-05
OFFER 70 Be WITHDRAWN
Our Government Must Act
Promptly.
VIEWS OF FRANK p. HASTINGS
Hawaiian Charge d'Ansirs Thinks
We Should Not Hesitate to Avail
Ourselves OF the Oppoi tunity.

Hawaiian Charge d'Ahsirs Thinks
| We Should Not Hesitate to Avail
Ourselves Of the Opportunity.
| Washington, Jan. 27.-"There is not
much time for the United States to
avail itself Of the proffered concession
of a submarine cable between the coast
of California and Hawaii" said Frank
p. Hastings, charge d'affaires of the
Hawaiian embassy in this city, "for
that offer only extends to May l, 1897.
1t is simply question Of expediency,
and as a monopoly of the proposed
cable connection for a score of years
would be granted it does not seem like
ly this country will let such an oppor-
tnnity slip. On all sides there is moth
ing but commendation for the project
and it would be $50, 900 well invested
for the United States to meet Hawaii a
little more than half way on this prop
osition.
According to the terms OF the pro-
posed concession, power is given to take
and hold exclusive possession Of the line
OF cable between San Francisco and
Honolulu, refusing any and all business
in the way of messages that might be
prejudicial to the interests Of this gov
ernment. With the vast and safe har-
Dor Of Pearl river as rendezvous for
its warships and the exclusive control
OF communication between Hawaii and
the outside world, the United States
would secure a vantage ground that
would give it practical control of the
Pacific ocean.
No suggestion has ever been made
by any private person or corporation to
lay such cable with private capital
and without government subsidy. I'M
certainty as to its financial success and
the indefniteness regarding the amount
OF commercial business that would
come to it has always stood in the way
OF investment by private capitalists.
There is no reason why the govern
ment should not contract for carrying
its dispatches as we'll as its mails, and
class an ocean cable company within
the category Of the postoffice. In 1857
the United States granted subsidy OF
$40, 900 per annum, as well as the use
OF two government ships, to assist in
laying cable from the coast of Ireland
to the coast of Newfoundland. This
action was taken at a time when the
necessity for cable communication was
hardly realized and was in the nature
OF an experiment. The whole cable
line was to be outside the domain of the
United States, and practically beyond
its control. Its messages were not to
be transmitted free, nor was it to have
any advantages from the successful lay
ing of the cable through the aid so
granted. But it was a necessity to
stimulate the investment of private
capital, which has resulted in spanning
the Atlantic with twelve separate
cables between South America and
Europe.
In all schemes for a cable crossing
the North Pacific the Hawaiian islands
have been considered necessary objec-
tive or resting point on the long stretch
of water to be traversed, and not until
the granting by the Hawaiian govern.
ment of exclusive landing rights to an
American company was the feasibility
of any other route seriously enter.
tained."