New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
ANSWER KEPT SECRET.
GOVERNOR HEARD FROM
S1cettenham's Language Rebuked,
but Spirit Not Condemned.

London. Jan. 23.-The Colonial Office is now in
possession of official advices from Sir Alexander
Swettenham. Governor Of Jamaica. concerning
the exchange Of letters between himself and
Rear Admiral Davis, but the extent Of these ad-
vices. and whether or not they contain an ex-
planation or apology, extenuating circum-
stances, has not been disclosed
1t appears that the imperial authorities re-
quested the Governor of jamaica to send them
a copy of his letter to Rear Admiral Davis. This
now has been furnished, and it shows that the
letter as sent out by The Associated Press was.
to all lntents and purposes a correct COPY. 1t
is now learned that the Secretary for the Colo
Mes Lord Elgtn, sent second cable message to
Governor Swettenham. asking him 10 give his
version of the affair, and to this. the Foreign
Office informed The Associated Press tonight,
no answer yet has been received. 1t is explained
that while this second cable message was drawn
up on January II. and the Colonial Office an
nounced on that day that 1t had been sent to
Kingston, it was not really forwarded until JAM
uary 22 as it required the direct authority OF
Lord Elgin who was absent IN Scotland, and
who could not be reached until the 22d
John 3. Carter. charge d'anaires Of the Ameri-
can Embassy, called at the Foreign ONCE to-
night, and received the same explanation OF the
situation as was furnished TO The Associated
Press.
letter to Rear Admiral Davis having been es-
tablished there remains only to determine the
official formalities. and the indications are that
the matter will be handled through the usual
diplomatic channels and that the correspondence
will be made public In a Blue Book.
Discussion of the incident discloses the fact
that the British view makes clear differentia-
ton between Governor Swettenham's opposition
to the presence of a foreign force on jamaican
soil and his manner Of expressing this Opposi-
tion. What the British government and people
now condemn is the tone Of the letter to Rear
Admiral Davis. the Foreign Office having de-
cIared that there was mo excuse for such
language from an official to the officer of a
friendly nation engaged in a work of human
ity,'' and the press and public adopting a
substantially similar view But on the question
whether or not Governor Swettenham was JUS
titled in asking Rear Admiral Davis TO withdraw
his armed forces from the island British opinion
inclines to hold that the Governor acted clearly
within his rights, although many persons con-
tend that the abnormal conditions should have
induced him to waive the usual requirements If.
as is supposed here, Rear Admiral Davis
landed marines at Kingston without q specific
request from the Governor.
The idea prevails here that the Admiralty as
an outcome Of the agitation aroused by the re-
cent events in Jamaica may modify the plans
under which tho West Indies were almost absn-
doned as a naval station. and it is suggested
that Jamaica might he made a strong naval sta
ton attached to an effective and we'll equipped
naval base on the Canadian coast if the forth
coming colonial conference can devise some plan
for the distribution of the financial responsible
ity for naval defence throughout the empire.