The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-08-28
Extracts from Sir Charles Tup.
per's Recent Speech.
OTTAWA PARLIAMENT DEBATE
Canadas Paramount Interest ia Cu'livating
the Trade of China and
Japan.

The unanimity of feeling on the Pa
cific cable question in the Canadian
Parliament was attested by Sir Charles
Tupper's speech in the House of Com
mons on July Goth. The Opposition
leader said:
Some time ago, when the Hon.
Postmaster General placed his resolu-
tions on the order paper, l had the
great pleasure of congratulating the
Government upon the conclusion at
which they had arrived in relation to
this matter, and l now beg to add my
hearty congratulations to my honor
lucid and able manner in which he
has put this important question before
the House.
In the course of his address on pre-
senting the resolution, Mr. Mulock
said:
"Quite a few weeks ago the country
appeared to be startled by the infor-
nation that Great Britain had given
Cable Company, so that no other cable
company could land in Hongkong with
in the period of twenty-five years after
| 1898. When you come to read that
agreement I see nothing in it to cause
us to doubt for moment that we es-
| tablish cable communication with the
Orient when we establish connection
| by cable with Australia. That agree
ment provides that the Imperial Gov
ernment can purchase a line of cable,
the second cable constructed between
Singapore and Hongkong, for the sum
of three hundred thousand pounds,
which | presume fairly represents it's
cost. Once the English Government
acquires that cable there only remains
the connecting link between the Main
land and Australasia to establish direct
cable communication via Australia be-
tween Canada and China and Japan.
And it is inconceivable that if the two
great Colonies of Canada and Austria
lasia have united themselves by cable,
the Colonies of Australasia own tele-
graph lines across their island conti-
nent, anything can prevent us from
forcing our way into China and Japan.
Nor would it be necessary, | think, for
us in that case, even if Great Britain
did not exercise her power of pre-emp-
ton in regard to the cable between
Singapore and HOngkOng, to resort to
that, because the Eastern Extension
Company, which at present own that
line, would recognize the irresistible
force of the Empire, and be prepared
to give fair rates, and thus make
duplication of the line unnecessary un-
less an increase of business should
make such step advisable for busi-
ness reasons. Therefore 1 regard the
proposition, though it nominally pro-
vides for communication only between
Canada and Australasia, as practically
completing cable communication be-
tween Canada and China and Japan. If
so, it is for us to contemplate the use
fulness to the trade of Canada of such
a development of cable communica-
ton"
Continuing, he pointed out Canada's
paramount interest in cultivating the
trade of the four hundred millions Of
China and Japan, towards which she
had already accomplished so much by
establishing steamship connection. Aft
er dwelling upon the Imperial aspect
of the cable proposal, Mr.. Mulock took
up the financial view, quoting in proof
of his assertion that no great burden
would be imposed on Canada, the esti-
mate of Mr. Fleming that the first
years operation Of the cable would
yield a surplus of one hundred and