Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-18
Alleged Distrust in the Latin Re
publics.
SPANIARDS CAUSE The FEELIN G
Existing Sentiment Throughout
the West Indies.
A LOOK TO TIL E FUT Z r Z


countries. Two or three times week it
appears in the form of dispatches from
Mexico or elsewhere. 1t is all based on al
legged fear that the United States wants to
take in the whole hemisphere.
Public men who know what is going on
In the West Indies and who understand
the need of rejecting overtures that are
likely to be made at any time smile when
they read of this anti-American feeling
Some of it is genuine and some of II is
manufactured. European trade rivalry
would explain the irritation shown in sew
eral of the South American countries. An
other reason is the presence at the capitals
of all these countries of a large Spanish
colony. Since the war with Spain these
colonies have grown somewhat by the addi-
ton of Spaniards from Cuba. They are
naturally bitter in their feelings against the
United States. 1t is they who are most
Jealous in warning Latin-America to be
ware of ''insidious absorption by the great
neighbor of the north.
Ofncially it is not likely that any notice
can be taken of the occasional outburstS of
Latin diStrust Nevertheless, as the y intel
States wants to be on good terms with its
IeighborS of the western hemisphere, 1t Is
likely that every chance will be improved
to clear up MISUNDERSTANDING which inter-
ested parties are seeking to create. At
present it is probab BILE that the admlnStra-
tCn would be grateful if the Smothered
agitation for an American protectorate
which is going on in the British West In
dies and in Santo Domingo could be kept
smothered. The problems growing out OF
the late Spanish possessions are quite
enough to occupy this country for some
time to come. However, the wishes of the
United States are not likely to be followed
in this matter and the advocates of Ameri-
can protectorates are likely to make them
selves heard before very long. The move
ment in several of the islands is already
strong enough to be felt When the United
States goes ahead in establishing military
and naval station the Isle of Pines in
order to command the isthmian canal route
there will be something like united move
ment by the islands which dissatisfied
with their present conditions. Whether Gu
ba tries the experiment of independence or
not there Will be little objection to the
American government fixing its military
station the Isle of Pines. Then the feel
ing throughout the West Indies will be that
it is i'll a little closer relation with all of
them.
Absorption of the Continent.
1t is possible that every step taken by
the United States in establishing its para
mount influence in the West Indies will be
used by the anti-American element in Cen
trail and South America to foment the feel
ing of distrust. A friend in one of the
South American capitals recently sent me
a clipping, which. he explained, was the
source of much of the distrust, and which
was being given very wide circulation in
the newspapers. 1t was an article headed
''Pretensions of the nited States" This
article purpurted to look into the future
and IL show how this country would spread
Its territory. The following We're given as
the prospective annexations:
19o0-St. Thomas, jamaica Haiti and San
Domingo
191o-Martinque, Santa Lucia Isthmus of
Panama and Central America.
19i2-MeXico.
191J-Colombia. Venezuela Ecuador
1!2!'-Chile. Peru. Bolivia.
13iO-Argehtine Republic, Uruguay, Para
quay and Brazil.
The article closes with the query whether
the United States will not fall before 1910
There Is nothing new about this squib,
though 1t may have an extended circula-
ton at present in South America. | read It
months ago in a Spanish newspaper in Ha
yara, which purported to copy 1t from q
French journal Later it was taken up b.
the English papers in Jamaica. Its only
relevancy to the future lies in the coun-
tries first cited. Eighteen months ago,
when Senator Lodge introduced his resolu-
ton that the United States should take
steps to acquire the Island of ST Thomas
as a coaling station, that Danish possession
was thrilled with hope. Its people were
more than willing to become part of the
United States, as they had been many years
back, when they voted for annexation
They saw little of the war when the dis
patch boats put in there telling of Admiral
SIMPSONS bombardment of San Juan Then
the hopes that had been raised in their
breasts died away, for they felt that the
United States would take Porto Rico as war
indemnity, and that 1t would have no need
of st. Thomas. That is the way they feel
at this day, but If twenty or thirty wears
hence there should be chance to become
part of the American republic they would
grasp 1t with eagerness
Feeling in Jamaica.
In Jamaica the conditions are different
II Colonial Minister Chamberlain We're not
so thoroughly occupied with the Transvaal
he might hear the mdtterings against his
policy that are raised by the English ele-
ment which Is not official. In spite of the
reciprocity concessions lately made by the
United States. and in spite of the promise
OF British subsidies to build up trade with
the island. the most aggressive sentiment
In jamaica is for something more than
trade relations with this country. They
want TO be part of IL politically few
months ago some Montreal capitalists who
were interested in the railroads and other
properties in Jamaica visited Kingston.
They tried to talk about the community of
interest between Canada and the Yves. IN
dies. They were laughed at. Again an
appeal was made to the supposedly loyal
sentiment which causes a British naval
station to be maintained at Port ROYAL
and which would make Jamaica of great
Importance to England when an isthmian
canal Is built. These appeals to sentiment
met with cold response. The threats of
reducing Jamaica to crown colony have
been as futile as the attempt to coax her
into loyalty which is not felt by the IN
habitants They feel that their material
interests are with the United States, and
they want their political interests to be
identical. 1t may be many years before
this sentiment takes definite form. Ameri-
can statesmen who are seeking to avoid
the acquisition of more territory in the
West Indies may well hope So but the SEN
timent Itself will not die out.
American Party in San Domingo.
About San Domingo there is more i'm
mediate concern. because of the events FOL
lowing the assassination of President Heu-
reauX 1t is possible that the revolution
which is bringing Jiminez back to power
could not have made such rapid and such
peaceful progress If the people were not
ready for it. What is hoped is that the
United States may not have to intervene be
You'd the protection which is extended to
the large American invest ments In Santo
Domingo There is, however a party
whose members call themselves the young
liberals, and who want to come under the
direct influence of the United States They
are not advocating annexation, and Their
program is a little indefinite: but they have
grasped the situation which the war with
Spain has brought about. They want San
Domingo to regain the opportunity which
was denied IL when President Grants
sIT.,.