New-York tribune., 1899-06-09
NEWRECIPROCITYTREATIES
VISIT OF JAMAICA COMMISSIONERS
AWAITED WITH INTEREST.
THEIR WORK LIKELY TO HAVE AN IMPoR-
TANT BEARING ON THE FUTURE OF
THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.

THEIR WORK LIKELY TO HAVE AN lMfON-
TANr BEARING ON THE FUTURE OF
THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
Washington June s.-Washington officials have
an interest in the coming Of the Jamaica Reel
procity Commissioners greater than the trade OF
that British possession warrants. There is feel
ing that before they get through these Jamaica
Commissioners will bring to focus the whoie
question of the future OF the British West In
dies They will act nominally in conjunction with
the British Embassy. because to do other"ise
would not be permitted by the British Foreish
Office Nevertheless the Jamaicans are apt 10
prove headstrong. Careful statements are maue
that their coming has nothing TO 90 "ith 'he
presence OF Sir Cavendsh Boyle. who is repre-
senting British Guiana In pending negotatiohs'
or with the proposed reciprocity arrangements
with the Barbados Nevertheless the loea 10
prevalent that Mr.. Chamberlain, the Coiohial
Minister, is hampering Jamaica. and tha' he
wants the other dependencies in the West inoies
to serve as Offset.
Another intimation Is given that II Jamaica
does not get along well with the United states
she will turn to Canada. The alliance between
Canada and the British Indies has been seri-
ously discussed in the Dominion 1t ls one Oh
PROPOSITIONS
Dominion has trouble with the United States
over commercial concessions and the nsheries.
Some Montreal capitalists have lately interest
ed themselves In electric light and street rail-
way enterprises in Jamaica. and they are saio
70 be urging closer union between the DO
ninion and the island. The notion Is too whim-
sical to receive much attention. because nelther
the fisheries nor the fruit trade afford a pasis
for either political or commercial union between
Canada and Jamaica.
SENTIMENT FOR ANNEXATION.
pr,vato Ietters from Jamaica have recently
s,,nnIemerted nublished and official reports re-
eardinR the depth of the discomfort there. IN
less the United States acts more generously
than England has done by granting trade ad-
vantages without equivalent return. II Is saiu
that the demand for annexation VIII De openly
made Some OF the leading men OF Jamaica
have no faith in the present negotiations anu
with the fear Of Cuba and Porto Hlco peiolc
tho,r eves they want the island TO seek political
union with the United States They are 10.
particular whether they are traded ror one Oh
the Philippines or for some other spot OF iano'
Apparently Mr. Chamberlain has the iiios'
AZ stake While Jamaica got no suDstah-
tial benefit for Its ruined sugar ihuus'iy
in the way OF countervailing duties Mr
Chamberlain held out the hope Oh oHec'
trade with Great Britain. when would III
sure a market for its fruits and otner prouuc's'
He had a carefully matured scheme by which
the trade was to be taken away from the New
England capitalists who had invested their
money and developed the frut-raising INDUSTRY
as we'll as the railroads An English fleet was 70
renIacc the American fruit fleet which runs to
Nav-York. Boston. Philadelphia and Baltimore
Sir Henry Blake the former Governor-General
of the island. presented TO the London Chamber
Of Commerce its opportunities. Plans were really
made by which English capital would drive out
the American capital. They all came to nothins'
and now their failure is admitted
IRRITATION AGAINST MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
In order to secure basis Of reciprocity with
the United States the Colonial Legislature
passed a retaliatory tariff bill. This was only
done after strong protests. and after the threat
Of the British Foreign Office to reduce Jamaica
TO the condition Of a Crown colony had been
withdrawn and Sir Augustus Hemming. the
present Governor General, had given assurance
that the liberties Of the colony would not be In
terfered with. Nevertheless, the day after the
passage of the Tariff bill Sir Augustus Hem
ming and Joseph Chamberlain were burned IN
eflgy. The feeling was that the course taken
would cause irritation among the officials OF the
United States instead of securing the conces-
sions which were wanted
1t can hardly be said that the Administration
IL irritated There is so little jamaican trade that
to show resentment would be absurd However,
no reason has been found why the United States
should do more for Jamaica than the British
Foreign Office is able TO do, and though Mr..
Chamberlain may be highly esteemed person
ally he Is not likely to receive much aid in his
plan of pacifying Jamaica through American
privileges
The American companies which have handled
the Jamaica fruits In the markets Of the United
States have not complained of the tariff. They
have dene a satisfactory business without inter-
ferins with fruit growers at home. AS for sugar.
IT is doubtful whether the United States could re-
store that industry in Jamaica by granting to 1t
such reciprocity as may ultimately be granted to
Cuba The whole question OF Jamaican reel
procitv is a political rather than commercial one.
and is of more concern in London than in Wash
irgton.