Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-01-11

M AY LOSE JAMAICA
British Cabinet Confronted by q
Serious Tariff Problem.
ISLAND DEMANDS DUTY ON SUGAR
To Offset the Competition of
Bounty-Fed Product.
TALK OF SECESS SION
ISLAND DEMANDS DUTY ON SUGAR
TALK OF SECES SSION

LONDON, January 1L-There VIII be a
cabinet meeting here Monday which bids
fair TO be the most fateful in the history OF
the West Indies, and may vitally affect the
United States. Lord Salisbury and his coll
leagues will then decide whether Great
Britain will put a ceuntervafling duty on
sugar Colonial Secretary Chamberlain will
submit statement. made up on the unim-
peachable evidence OF the West Indian au-
thorities that II this step is not taken the
sugar industry in the West Indian Islands
will be dead within a year and the West
Indies hopelessly bankrupt.
The British delegates to the Brussels
sugar conference will also report that there
is no likelihood of the continental nations
abolishing bounties unless Great Britain
declares her intention OF imposing counter
vailing duties should the bounties be con-
tinued
The preliminary sessions OF the Brussels
sugar conference have convinced the Brit
ish delegates that the continental powers
only desire at the most to amend the boun-
ty system. and that this is chiefly due to
the hope Of placating their own consumers.
Influence of Free Trade Element.
The best informed opinion. gathered by a
representative of the Associated Press, in
clines to the belief that the cabinet will
not consent to the imposition Of counter
vailing duties, for fear of raising storm OF
internal criticism from the old school Of
free traders, who constitute formidable
wing of the unionst party. The memoran-
dunn which Mr.. Chamberlain Will present
on Monday is worded more I'm the nature of
an ultimatum than any hitherto presented
to the government, and while IL does not
openly threaten secession, that phase Of
the situation has been verbally communi-
Gated by the colonial secretary.
1t is almost needless to add that the de-
cision of the cabinet Will be Kept protouni
secret at least until January %, when the
British delegates return to the Brussels
sugar conference.
1t is said that Mr.. Chamberlain realizes
the gravity of the crisis and favors impos-
ing countervailing duties; but the personnel
of the large cabinet includes so many utter
ly differing economic views that II is doubt
full whether Mr.. Chamberlain VIII win the
day.
Information at State Department.
1t Is said at the State Department that
no official information has been received
there for the last two or three weeks con-
corning political or industrial conditions In
Jamaica. and it is therefore assumed that
there has been no radical change in the
situation since the last report. One of the
officials stated that the reported movement
in favor of annexation to the United states
is perennial in it's character and Is always
agitated during period of financial depres-
sion, such as is reported TO be the case IN
Jamaica at this time
The commercial relations between the
United States and Jamaica are particularly
close. A recent report from Consul watts
at Kingston shows a gratifying increase IN
imports of raw materials from the United
States This country now sends 631S per
cent Of the imports of Jamaica against
33.19 per cent from the united Kingdom.
About the same proportion-Le., G3.6 per
cent-of the exports goes to the United
States and 1872 per cent goes to Great
Britain. Sugar constitutes nearly IL per
cent of The total exports fruit As per cent,
rum and coffee about Z per cent each, etc.
Consul Watts reported that there was
every reason to expect an increase In the
demand for agricultural implements and
fertilizers from the United States. Gener-
ally speaking. Jamaica, like other West
Indian countries, may be said to draw the
bulk of imported food supplies from the
United States and an increasing proportion
of manufactured goods.
Consul Watts Report.
In a recent report to the State Depart
ment Consul Watts, in review of the in
dustrial conditions in Jamaica, said in
part:
prosperity in the trade and industries Of
Jamaica of late years reached its zenith in
1886, when over-trading, extravaganza in
living, etc, naturally following, caused a
reaction and gradual depression in all busi-
ness affairs About one year ago the cli-
max in the downward tendency was reach
ed through destructive tornado, which
swept over the island and damaged and
ruined the entire fruit crop. The people
rose to the emergency, however, and
through strenuous efforts in different d.
rections restored fair degree of prosper
ity. which L believe is now gradually in
creasing
'.The principal industrial organization In
the island is the United Fruit Company,
United States corporation, with capital OF
about s13, ,0oO. coo. This company was found
ed in 1870 by Capt. s. ID. Baker OF Cape
Cod Mass and now not only owns and
carries about three-fourths of the fruit
grown in this island but has vast interests
in Cuba and Santo Domingo, as well as IN
Colombia, Costa Rico and Honduras.
Anxious for Reciprocity.
The business community of this island is
anxiously awaiting a decision on the vital
question of trade reciprocity with the Unit
ed States, particularly sugar planters and
owners Of orange groves, and they look to
the coming Congress to ratify the reciproc-
ity treaty. Should it be ratified, it Will
leave in the pockets of these people about
$50 900 per annum, which now contributes
to our revenues in the shape of duties On
the other hand, il will help our people who
are largely interested and engaged in the
trade of this lsland, employing American
ships principally to carry its products to
our shores, etc, to say nothing of the recip-
rocal benefits we will get from it, The
markets of the United States are the nat
ural one for the products of Jamaica"
Daily Pay for Laborers.
Nm