The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-24
LONDON IS ADVISED
COLONIAL OFFICE HEARS FROM
 GOVERNOR swETTENHAM.
Report ef Kineston Martinet Being Kept Absolutely secret, Ofnctals
 HOld1mg Matter Ia Between
 Government and senator.

London. Jan! ga. .--The colonial of flee is now in possession of official advices from Sir Alexander Swetten- ham. the governor of Jamaica, con- corning the exchange of letters be- \ tween himself and Rear Admiral Da- wis. but the extent of these advices and whether or not they contain an explanation, an apology or extenuat- ing circumstances has not been dis closed.
 It appears that the imperial author tiles requested the governor of Ja-' maica to send them copy of his let- ters to Rear Admiral Davis.
 This has now been furnished and 1t shows that the letter as sent out by the Associated Press was, to all intents and purposes q correct copy.
 It is now learned that the secretary of the colonies. Lord Elgin, sent a second telegram to Governor Swet- tenham asking him to give his version of the affair and to this the foreign office informed the Associated Press tonight no answer has been received. It is explained that while this second cable message was drawn up on Jan- uary 21 and the colonial office an- nounced on that date that it had been sent to Kingston 1t was not really forwarded until January 22 as 1t re- ouired the direct Authority of Lord Elgfn. who was absent in Scotland. and who could not be reached until
 John R. Carter. Charge d'Afaires of the American Embassy, called at the foreign office tonight and receiv- ed the same explanation of the situa- tion as was furnished tc the Associa- ted Press.
 The fact that Governor swettenham wrote the letter to Rear Admiral Da- wis having been established there re- mains only to determine the official formaiities and the indications are that the matter will be har = ed through the usual diplomatic ci.au- nels and that the correspondence will be made public in blue book.
 Discussion of the incident disclosed the fact that the British view makes clear differentiation between Gov ernor Swettenham's oposition to the presence of foreign force on Jamai- can soil and his maner of expressing this oposition. What the British Gov ernment and people now condemn is the tone of the letter to Rear Admiral Davis, the foreign office having de- clared that there was mo excuse for such language from an official to the officer of friendly nation engaged in work of humanity" and the press and public are adopting substantially sim- liar View.
 : But on the question whether or not Governor Swettenham was justified In asking Rear Admiral Davis to with draw his armed forces from the island. British opinion inclines to held that Governor Swettenham acted clearly within his rights although many per- sons content that the abnormal con ditions should have induced the Gov ernor to waive the usual requirements if. as Is supposed here. Rear Admiral Davis landed marines at Kingston without a specific request from the Governor.
 The idea prevails here that the ad- miralty, as an outcome of the agita-, tion aroused by the recent events In Jamaica, may modify the plans under which the West Indies were almost abandoned as a naval station and 1t Is suggested that Jamaica might be made a strong naval station attached to an effective and well-equipped naval base on the. Canadian coast. if the forth coming colonial conference can devise some plan for the distribution of the financial responsibility for naval de- fense throughout the Empire.