Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, HARBo1

ing the harbor facilities under their con-
troll From the present appearances St
Thomas will have ample means of pro-
riding coal and of shelterins vessels
whether for the canal traffic or for trans
shipment to South America.
Some of the people of St. Thomas still
believe that these Danish possessions
should be part of the United States. They
regret that the last time the United
States sought to acquire them the Dan
sh plebiscite was unfavorable. just as
when Gen. Grants administration negotI-
ated the annexation treaty and the Dan
ish parliament ratified it, the opposition
of Summer and other enemies of Grant
IN the Senate prevented the United States
completing the bargain
The establishment of our naval station
at Guantanamo, in eastern Cuba, has 50
changed the conditions i'll West Indian
waters that these questions Of coalinS
or naval stations at other places nov
have hardly more than academic in
terest for the American people. But IN
the West Indies they are still discussed
as live questions
Dutch colonial memories cluster around
Curacao. the island is outside the ord!-
nary tourist itinerary and most of .ha
travellers only know of it in connection
with IL certain beverage which should be
taken with moderation at nfrequent IN
tervals Curacao is also outside TIE
direct canal radius and little increased
traffic is expected from the waterway. Its
existing harbor and coaling facilities arr
fairly good. but they are subject to fur
Their improvements.
French colonial expectations center
around Martinique and Guadeloupe. They
have something besides "reminiscences of
Mount Pelee to offer the traveller in the
present are somewhat at outs with the
home government, because the latter does
not see the canal possibilities in the way
they see it.
Forte de France and Pointe a Pitre are
the rival capitals of Martinique and
Guade'o upe but they sink their rivalry
10 the extent of giving utterance to very
frank opinions about the indifference of
the French government to It's West India
colonies. \ government engineering
commission was appointed to make an
examination into the prospective develop
rrent Of the French possessions in the
Antilles after the canal was opened
Locally Il was assumed that very
heavy traffic which will pass through the
canal would find the French colonies con-
venient stopping points and that this
would justify extensive harbor works on
tire most modern lines. for which the cen
trail government would make nnancia!
provision experimenting the resources OF
the colonial governments for this pur-
pose. On this main point Martinique and
Guadeioupe were agreed. Naturally. when
the modern harbor came to be construct
ed Martinique thought that Forte de
France should be the seat of the heaviest
expenditure. while Guadeloupe held
similar opinion as to Pointe Pitre.
This local situation may or may not
have had something to do with the
Solomon like decision of the engineer
ing commission. 1t found that the build
ing of a great modern harbor at either
port would involve an expense out or
all proportion to the commercial and
economic interest Of France in the An
TILES.
The fixed facts of geography. the com
mission said in substance, were against