The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-11
SIR DAVID WILSON TALKS.
Governor of British Honduras De-
MES There We're Bread Riots.


MES There Were Bread Riots.
NEW YORK, Aug. 11.-Sir David Wiz
son, Governor of British Honduras, sailed
from this port today for Liverpool on
board the CunaTd liner Campania. Sir Da-
vid is man of about forty years. and his
features have been blackened and burned
by long exposure TO tropical spn. He
has lived in the tropics nearly thirty years.
In speaking of the purpose of his visit to
England he said yesterday:
What British Honduras demands most
imperatfvely is railroads For this reason
am going to London, to endeavor 70 OBJ
tam financial backing for a railroad run
ming from Belize, the capital and chief sea-
port of our Grown province into the neigh
boring state OF Guatemala. The proposed
read will be about 100 miles long and VIII
connect with the chief railroad lines of
Guatemala. T"
Sir David was asked about the reported
bread riots in Belize. and the methods
used by the military TO subdue them
There were no bread riots" answered
the British Governor emphatically. Some
body got the story that the populace OF
Belize had Instituted an insurrection, and
that the air was SO full of missiles that 7
was compelled to make my escape on a
Mexican guRboat at the imminent risk of
my life. Now, that story is pure fabrica-
ton, and I am e. 7eedingly sorry that it
has been circulated so widely.
1t is a fact that / left Belize on the
Mexican warship Sargosa and was landed
at Vera Cruz but this was because of a
special invitation of President Diaz TO visit
him, which l did. Our meeting was for
the purpose of adjusting the relations Of
the Indians In northern British Honduras
with those OF Yucatan. l was received by
the President with the greatest Courtesy
and friendliness. l came direct from the
City of Mexico to New York by rail, in FIVE
days and many nights.
There has been some dissension among
the people because of rise in the tariff.
Il was bruited about by local demagosuss
that an attempt had been made to BENEFIT
the rich and rob the poor. bur this dissen-
sion was only limited to talk, When tie
tariff system was let alone long enough II
prove its efficacy and fairness the la
ceased. Now. this is the nearest approach
TO bread riot that ! know of"
Is it true that the people of British
Honduras are not prosperous" was
asked.
Yes. am obliged to say. it is he sd-
mItted. We are at present burdened By
what you ASeTicans call hard times The
chief reason for this condition Of things.
in my mind. is the South African war,
which has taken away most OF our ships.
Vessels OF all sizes and descriptions have
been chartered by the British Governs Mt
for transport service in South Africa, ard
as ems zGGence we have been sadly haIdi-
capped in al lines OF commerce.
The chief industry of the country is the
raising Of fruit for the Nsw Orleans mar
ket and The shipping of mahogany AID log
wood There is but little profit in the
fruit trade, for the reason that / have al =
ready mentioned. The country should he
developed, and railroad eommunicat on
should be opened between the s. apoTt aad
the interior. Then all the profit Of the
grower need not be consumed in bringing
his product TO the market
Sir David spoke OF the South African war
as if it needed only a few more mar hes
and English cannon balls TO bring it TO an
end
1T has cost great deal OF life and a
great deal OF money" he added, but I
think that the results VIII justify the
means.