Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-25
New Tariff BIZ Expected to Incur Our
Ill Will,
CHARGED 70 Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
Residents of British Colony Take
G'oomy View of Future
TALK OF ANNENATION
Correspondence IF the Associated Press,

lfrf->f H'T'ftsIrc If inc Associated tr''-S
KINGSTON. Jamaica. May Is. 1872.
!; is now the growing general belief here
thai the industrial fate of the island has
ben sealed Ey the ili-adyised policy Of the
colonial secretary. of state, Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain. Advices received by the Lon
don mail via New York yesterday appar-
entity confirm the truth Of a recent pei
sis-enJ ruror that tn. colory's last hope
Of industrial rehabilitation has been sacri-
feed by Mr.. Chamberlain in his failure to
float the scheme for establishing a direct
fruit trade with the European markets
1t is understood that with the passage
yesterday of the third or final reading of
the tariff bill the possibilities Of American
retaliation will materialize and that there
fore. nothing is to be looked for in that
direction. The people of Jamaica desire to
secure reciprocity with the United States.
This is proved by the fact that some have
actually gone to the length Of discussing
more or less seriously the extreme POSSIBLE
ity of downright annexation. But they
fully appreciate the limitations OF their
political privileges and realize that as mere
cOlOnists they are not fire. to make their
own arrangements.
blame Laid on Chamberlain.
When. therefore, a week or two ago. The
fact WAS made manifest that Mr.. Cham
berlain had decided that the colony was
not TO be allowed the coveted privileges
of American reciprocity. it was generally
felt that the clever secretary of state had
matured his great scheme for providing
home market for all Of the islands prod
ucts which would immediately incur the
menace of Cuban and Porto Rican rivalry
by making Jamaica altogether independent
Of the United States. 1t is thought now
by many citizens that 1t is not too much
To say that this impression. which was
taciIy foSteTSd by the local government.
h23 much to DO with the final passage
Of the tariff bill in the face of the Ameri-
can protest.
In the first place, as far as Jamaica is
concerned, it appears that as in the Amer1-
can reciprocity negotiations Mr. Chamber
lain persisted in treating for the West In
dies as a whole declining to have Jamaica
singled out. The tenderers for the Jamai-
cI fruit trade. therefore. did not their
way 10 take Up the whole scheme and
backed out
Again Mr.. Chamberlain's scheme contem-
plated that the tenders for handling the
trade should also run it, contracting to
purchase on their own account a minimum
number Of CarsOes OF fruit monthly a. the
outset, and 20 establish plantations of their
own subsequently. They were also to de
veI"p the tourist trade by establishing
hotels
Firm Withdrew Offer.
On the full conditions being revealed the
great English firm which was alleged 10
nave been in the scheme from the begin
nlng-Elder, Dempster & Co.-promptly re-
moved and disposed Of the fast boats they
had provided The three alternative tenders
Of the Royal Mail Company did not in any
way come UP to the requirements of the
scheme That of the Jamaica syndicate
Nathan & Co. which might have answered
tor Jamaica and been subsequently extend
ca 10 the other Islands. seems not 10 have
been practical, because the syndicate did
Eot secure financial support in London.
Finally. the tenders Of the Boston Fruit
TO- did not appear in the list.
one Of the first results of the new tariff
viii. seemingly. be American retaliation
Apparently Mr. Chamberlain has courted it.
VIM r." scheme for the European fruit
trade abandoned. the outlook is that Jamai-
ca VIII soon have 20 market at all
Having done all that they could i'm the
matter the rtpreS, natives yesterday passed
thu third reading ~ the tariff. throwing the
Whole 1nus Of the expected results on the
government The governor. in SO many
words accepted the responsibility
Inc tariff is BOW an accomplished fact
and the colony awaits the inevitable re-
suits with anxiety.