Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-27
FEAR OF RETALIATION
Jamaica in a Dilemma Over New
Tariff Schedule.
AMERICA her BEST CUSTOMER
Home Government Seems Indiffer-
emit to Islands Troubles.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS

| Correspondence of the Associated Press
! KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 2O.-Now that
| the first flush of excitement has Gained
| down over the so-called "ultimatum' of the
| United States to the Jamaica government
| with respect to the tariff, popular opinion
| begins to recognize the fact that so far
| from being evil the action of the Wash
ington authorities bids fair to prove a bless
| ing in disguise.
| There can be no doubt that the Jamaica
tariff in effect now does and under the new
| bill will still more SO diferentiate against
| American imports in favor of those from
| the mother country. This being now ad-
| mitted it is recognized that the colony can
| not afford to continue such a fiscal policy
| if the United States chooses to adopt any
| retaliatcry measures. That this will be
done seems evident from the representa-
lions made by Consul Dent, although the
precise nature of those representations has
| not TRANSFERRED
What Will Jamaica Do:
| The question arises: What will Jamaica
| do about it and to what will this lead?
| 1t is remembered that only recently the sec
| rotary of state for the colonies, Mr., j.
| Chamberlain, when pressed to DO some
thing for the West Indian trade, committed
nInSeI TO the SlllS ~ II dim Wv O. 49,.
there was no real necessity, because West
| Indian products already received such
favorable trea tment from the omted Statss
| Discussing the American ultimatum from
| this point of view, the Cleaner, winch Is
credited with rejecting the government
| side of all questions, makes this significant
observation:
1T might even be a good thing for the
legislative council to push through q tariff
| which America would consider hostile, in
order to provoke retaliation and rouse Eng
| land to action on our behalf, when she
| would BE- compelled either to come to terms
| with the hard bargainerS, or to allow ia
/ maica herself to enter into a reciprocity
| treaty with the United States"
Islands Position Critical.
The Daily Telegraph and Anglo-American
Herald says:
The critical stage in our trade relations
with the United States at which We have
arrived demands the clearest vision and
the caImest and sanest judgment possible
if this colony is to derive good and not
evil from the present complications"
The paper then proceeds TO argue that
the facts of the complication and their
bearings should be nationally faced il per
manent injury is not to be suffered. These
facts it briefly catalogues as follows:
although British politically, Jamaica is
American geograp hiCally, and trade has a
tendency to develop along geographical
liEes; the United States is a better market
for Jamaican products than England is or
ever can be; the United States produces
everything that Jamaica uses, and can
take everything that Jamaica pToduc IS;
the United States is ready TO enter into
permanent trade relations with Jamaica,
which would place this island on an evea
footing with Cuba and Porto Rico ana if
reciprocal preferential terms were arranged
Jamaica would gain enormously and be-
come one of the most prosperous of coun-
tries, the only losers being the manufac-
of jS No nv
the people of Jamaica should he made to
suffer in order that the manufacturers of
England should not suffer.
Relations With United States.
Again, as between the United States and
Jamaica, the balance of trade is over
whelmingly in favor of Jamaica. This the
American government is keeniy alive to.
While the United States would not miss
Jamaica's trade, Jamaica could not live
month if the American markets were closed
to her. This is precisely what will happen
if some arrangement is not arrived at,
since Cuba and Porto Rico more than
amply supply such products as Jamaica
now supplies.
The Telegraphs conclusion from these
premises is that the question of reciprocity
is relatively more important to Jamaica
than II is to the United States, and a treaty
Is absolutely necessary if the island is to be
saved from the abyss of bankruptcy and
ruin
These extracts fairly represent the views
Of Jamaica, and, it is believed, of the local
administration also
According to the colonial secretary, he
whole question must be settled between the
NJ me governments, and it is thought that
Jamaica contention, on the lines here set
iorth. Will be submitted to Mr. Chamber
IAN in the form of popular representa-
tion, covered possibly by a strongly worded
and urgent resolution from the legislative
council.
ITIEn G,nu,