The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-11
..F|''FIIGH' AND
II 7'HEGANAL
INTEND TO UTILIZE THE AD.
vANTAGES TO 5HIPPING;TO
UTMOST DEGREE.
LIKELY TO CREATE A PORT OF
CALL FOR FRENCH SHIPS
AT pApETTE

PARIS, NOV. 1.-the thorough.
ness with which France has studied
the maritime commercial situation
which will arise as n result Of the
completion OF the Panama canal is
evidenced by further report from
A. Monte. under secretary Of state
for marine. who. in addition to speak
ing for the foreign office, las given
some interesting detail as to what
certain French shipping companies
contemplate in the way of increased
passenger and freight service by way
OF the Isthmus.
NJ. Monzic is directly charged with
the affairs Of the merchant marine.
NJ. Baudin. the minister, occupying
himself more immediately with the
navy. The views OF N. Monte are:
THE general plan OF action which
may suggest itself to the French gov
eminent with a view to utilizing the
Panama canal. am not qualified to
state. 1t is for the minister OF for
eign affairs to decide whether there
is need to enter upon, either today or
later, such negotiations as shall APP
pear to him necessary to insure the
participation Of France in the benc"
fits Of a work whiCh-nO one for
gcts-was inspired By the genius OF
famous Frenchman. In regard to
the creation of a pOn of call at Pa
pCetc, the colonial minister alone
would be competent tn indicate ana
discuss the measures already taken
or in preparation with this end in
view.
THE creation Of such !! port OF call
is of the highest Importance to North
American interests. Since a good haiI
Of the tonnage carried between the
NOr:h Atlantic and Australasia ttEr
half OF 900,00O net tons in 1909,
represents the commerce OF the Uni
tea States and E'eaStern Canada. By
reason Of the privileged situation OF
the United States respecting the Aus
tralian market, this stream OF mari
time trade must increase rapidly.
New York will be nearer to Sidney
via Panama than Liverpool is no" ny
say Of Suc2. An economy OF 1000
miles in navigation will constitute
an inculculablr advantage to Amerl-
can exporters. am therefore sure
that the efforts undertaken by Franc"
to create port Of call ut Tahiti Will
he appreciated by American shipping
as something advantageous TO It in
the first degree,
"The choice between Papette and
fIapa is no longer doubtful nor is it
being discussed. The facilities Of en-
try into the harbour Of Pupctte, lis
security and the large SURFACE OF wa
ter available give Papcttc an obvious
Papettcs happy Situa-
ton, in particular, is fitted |" CIV"
her preference over Rapa ana Hone"
lulu as the ravoritc stopping place
between California and New Zealand
on the route between San Francisco
and Auckland.
III add that the construction OF
li"ht-honses is being planned for the
guidance of ships passing, at the
north Of the TuAmotU Archipelago,
among the numerous islands so"n
throughout the ocean, at the same
time as the formation Of the port at
Papet1c, | will have sufficiently
shown the extent and value. inter
nationally, of the program which the
minister of colonies proposes to car
~ out III the Pacific.
but this is by no means all that
France intends to do. N. Jean Morel
the minister Of colonies let it be un-
derstood in answer to Senator Deren-
ger, who pleaded the noble cause OF
the French Antilles, that the old