The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-02-07
IS NO REQUEST
French Have Not Asked
for Naval Station Here.
General Report That Such Petit
ton HAD Been Lodged-Enthusi-
asm Over New Steam Line.

Some facts published during the past
week on French shipping and warships
with relation to this port gave rise to
rumors Of almost 1893 proportions.
The report that was considered to be
OF sufficient Importance to warrant in
vestigation was TO the effect that the
French Government had made of the
Hawaiian Government a formal re-
quest to be permitted to establish a
naval coaling and repair station some
where in the group-preferably at Ho-
nolulu. This in view of certain other
incidents or indications to have an
air or halo of FEASIBILITY. 1t is de-
MED from the Executive Building.
There was mention up there that the
talk had been heard, that it had been
linked with some information or spec
ulatlon bearing on the negotiations
pending for the annexation of the ISL
ands to the United States. The French,
it is assured to inquirers, have mani
of war in time of peace or conflict,
any advantages not enjoyed by every
other power, with the exception of the
United States, which of course has
special rights and privileges in con-
nection with Pearl Lochs.
The rumor is thus disposed of for
the time. Several prominent Govern
ment officials and a number of leading
business men are highly elated over
the fact that the new line of French
steam merchantmen is to make this
port one of it's termini and that much
of the freight heretofore brought di-
rect from San Francisco to Tahiti and
other French posts to the South will
hereafter be handled at Honolulu.
This matter will of necessity be
brought before the Legislature. The
standing or open concessions to lines
of steamers calling at this port are
to those routes going through to
China and Japan and the British col
onies from Canada or the United
States. This French enterprise is
something slightly different, but is of
the same relative Importance and mag
nitude and, as an authority remarks
may be the result of bringing more
trade to the port than some Of the
present favored lines. The item of
coal will make more business. There
is a possibility that meat may be ship
ped from here. Hawaii has more beef
and mutton than she needs, even she
does frequently import mutton. Fresh
provisions of many varieties can be
sold for shipment by the French line.
Two sailing clippers are at present
in the trade between San Francisco
and Tahiti With the headquarters
here and with steam as the means of
communication the trade is bound
to increase and everybody in the ISL
ands will be benefited thereby.
One city business man in speaking
of the prospects of building
up big trade with the south through
the medium of this new French line
said that the time was coming after
all these years when the vision that
Kalakaua had of a Polynesian empire
with Honolulu as the commercial base
was about to be realized. He added
that Hawaii would manage somehow,
with the immense amount of capital
here to manage a business that had
naturally drifted to this point from
the Pacific coast.
The Duguay Trouin, the French
ram cruiser in command of CommO-
dore Fort, will finish coaling this ev
ening or early tomorrow. The inten-
ton at present is to leave this harbor
either tomorrow or the next day.
1t is a significant fact that the Du-
quay Trouin sails under sealed orders.
Her commander was directed to leave
Callao and report here for orders. His
instructions as received here are clos
ed. Complying with the custom of
naval chiefs of all countries, Commo
dore Fort will steam direct to sea and
when out of sight of land-say in
about three to five hours-will open
his orders. 1t is surmised that these
will tell him to go over into Chinese
waters where the French have large
interests requiring at this particular
juncture more attention than for some
time.