New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-12
pACFFTO CARRIE TERMS.

It is scarcely credible that serious objection
will be made to the conditions named by the
President for the laying Of the Pacific cable.
They are not only reasonable terms They
are also in the main essential to the safe
guarding Of American interests in this impor-
tant enterprise. Some of those to which ii is
ADMINISTRATIONS, we must hope, adequate au-
thority-objection will be made are those which
seem to be most necessary, if the chief ends
of the cable laying, apart from private profit,
are to be attained.
For example there is the requirement that
the cable shall be extended from Manila to
China. There is at present cable from Manila
to Hong Kong at which latter point it connects
with the Chinese system. It is said that the
Commercial Pacific Cable Company has already
entered into an agreement with the Eastern Ex-
tension Company, which Owls the Manila Hong
Kong line TO connect with it and pass all
through business to and from China and Japan
over its cable. Therefore the Commercial com-
pany does not wish to lay a cable of its own
from Manila 10 China. Probably not in such
circumstances. But the United States Govern
rnent does want it TO do SO, and the desires of
the United States Government are entitled to
be seriously considered Nor is this desire an
unreasonable one. On the contrary, It is emf
nently reasonable, logical, and prompted by
necessitous requirements for American welfare.
These are the circumstances: There are two
claimed monopolies in that part of the world
IN cable service. The Eastern Extension Com
pany claims a monopoly on the Philippine
coasts and the Great Northern claims a mOnop-
oly on the Chinese coast. The one is repugnant
10 the American policy and promise of open
door q the Philippines and the other is vio-
lation of Chna's treaties with the United States.
1t is thus incumbent upon the United States TO
effect the abrogation Of both, and that is best to
be done by pursuing precisely such a course as
that prescribed by the President To lay
cable from the United States TO the Philip
pines and thence to China will be practical
breaking OF both those monopolies To refrain
from doing so. when we need to do So would
be TO give those monopolies tacit recognition and
sanction. which is something this country GER
fainly does not desire and cannot well afford to
do The terms of the agreement between the
Commercial Pacific and the Eastern Extension
companies are not disclosed. II would be most
unpleasant for an impression to get abroad that
the former agrees TO respect the latters monop-
ely on the western side of the Philippines in
return for being let in on the eastern and that
thus the compact involves recognition of both
those monopolies. We DO not suppose such is
the case. Yet there would be grave danger of
a suspicion to that effect If the American com
pany should object 10 that one OF the Presi-
dents requirements.
1t does not seem unreasonable either 10 re-
auire that all responsible employees of the cable
COMPANY shall be American citizens This cable
"a going 70 be used very largely for confidential
and important government business. Such bust