The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-15
WAS TALKED TO DEATH
Project of Jamaican Annexation
to the United States.
SHE MAY JOIN CANADA
The Matter VIII Be Brought Up al the
Barbados Conference-British Guiana
Would Give a Foothold
in the South.

New York, Sept. lathe fate of the
movement for the annexation of Jamai-
ca to the United States is sealed, says
the Kingston. Jamaica, correspondent
of the Times. For a week or two the
matter has been talked over; talked to
death and allowed to drop. This has
not been owing to the lack of sympathy
from the better informed classes and
those whose material interests are in
volved in the future of the island. 1t
may safely be said that these, to a
man, favored the proposition. other
wise, indeed, it would never have
reached the importance that it did at
the outset.
But the color prejudice proved too
strong, and even those who realized
most clearly the magnitude of the
crisis and the completeness of the solu>
ton that annexation would afford,
dreaded to face the personal antagonism
that their support of the movement
would involve. Hence, when the full
strength of popular opposition was felt
open sympathy promptly vanished.
The gravity of the crisis remains I'M
altered, however, and the darkness of
the shadow of industrial gloom cast
over the island by the prospective an
nexation of Cuba and Porto Rico into
the United States is in 40 way relieved.
In best informed circles IL is felt that.
racing a demand for annexation to the
United States as an alternative. no rep
reservations that the Barbados con-
ference may make to the imperial gov
will produce the least effect
upon the policy of the home authori-
ties. For this reason there is already
on foot an alternative annexation pro-
posal which, while not nearly so prom
ising as that for admission to the Unit
ed states, yet holds out some prospect
for relief from the crisis that surely
threatens the island
The proposal now is to seek admis-
sion into the Canada dominion. While
the sugar market is not so large as
that of the United States, il is better
than none at all. On the other hand,
there will be no change of nationality
and the color question would not be
touched. These are the two cardinal
points at issue. Canadian annexation
would assimilate them and reconcile
all conflicting interests so as to be the
most practicable solution attainable. on
this there seems to be an agreement
OF popular sentiment. 1t is not pro- +,
posed, however, to take any definite
steps in the matter until the Barbados
conference has proved it utility or 9TH
erwise. And no idea of the outlook can
be formed here until mail advices are
- Wv N'AASN VI liz ~ - !
ence. This cannot be received until the
end of this week, for although there is
a cable to the Barbados, the tolls are
so prohibitive as TO preclude its being
telegraphed.
The Canadian agent, one Of the
brightest and most popular men of
Kingston, is just the sort Of man to
work up the movement to secure not
only the annexation of Jamaica to Can
ada, but also the whole of the British
West Indies. It's popularity at both
ends is the best augury of it's ultimate
success. The Canadian agent, George
r.. Burke, in an interview, explained
that the annexation Of the Islands to
the dominion, while affording imme-
date relief and the possibility of flu
ture expansion Of them, would bring to
the great northern country just pre-
cisely what she most needed. That is
a tropical annexation. To England it
would mean that while she retained her
sovereignty her ministers would at once
be relieved of the problem of providing
for the future of the islands, a problem
that has up to the present time been
battling them and for which no other
solution is obtainable.
Annexation would furthermore be but
a fuller development of the negotia-
tions that are actually now in progress
between the dominion and Great Britain
looking to the establishment Of better
trade relations between the former and
the West ndian colony, particularly in
the matter Of sugar. Mr.. Chamberlain,
the British colonial secretary, could
with ease settle the whole West Indian
problem on these lines, did he so please,
but for some reason he does not appear
to approve of this course. 1t Is, how
believed that his powerful or de