Show PACIFIC CABLE obstacles to be overcome before success is achieved new york feb 17 A Scy mEer president of the pacific cable company of new york lias returned to this city from a trip of several months duration in the forecast where he lias been investigating ti abc possibilities of tho construction of an american transpacific trans pacific cable mr mado como interesting statements regarding the pacific bablo question and president mckinicks message to congress on the subject the presidents message set alie urgency of having direct communication with the far cast and particularly with the american possessions pos there lie suggested the construction and maintenance of a cable line by either alio government or an american corporation if by tho latter under such safeguards as congress might impose but ho eaid 1 I do not mean to make any recommendations to congress as to which of these methods would be alie most desirable mr Scy said 1 I have observed that a third suggestion has been made eliat there be a combination government and corporation line between the united states and the philippines which I 1 understand der stand lias been favored by alie ameri can hawaiian commissioner namely a united states government cable line to honolulu and an american corporation cable to the philippines china japan and australia this latter scheme would be a case of putting private capital between the devil and the deep sea mr went on tb explain liow the eastern cable company an english corporation by reason of vested rights would have a monopoly as far as telegraphic cables arc concerned of the entire asiatic coast and all pacific islands now owned by spain or formerly under the jurisdiction of that country until the year 1940 he was of the opinion that no american cable company or the united states government could obtain landing rights in the philippines at hong kong or at anny point on the asiatic coast without obtaining alie consent of alie eastern telegraph company with to the action ottlie of state in disapproving on december last the rights granted prior to annexation by the hawaiian government to the pacific bablo corn pany which authorized tho company to lay cables from honolulu eastward mr said it would have a working basis for an adjustment of landing rights founded on reciprocity in tho nature of things it h clear that tho eastern telegraph company does not want any pacific cable established and it will not consent to any impairment of its rights unless fully compensated in a manner that will safeguard ita existing interests the pacific cable company is strongly of the opinion that if it can secure alio necessary from the united states government it can induce lie eastern company to consider a fair business proposition especially when atthe british it w ill bo to its future advantage mr vai of the opinion that should alio united states undertake to establish a government cable serious international ter national complications would arise it w doubtful he said if china japan or australia would permit the united states government to operate a bablo within its jurisdiction the great cost to tho government of constructing and operating ruch a cable lie added would make it highly impracticable the political situation n the cast said mr Scy is exceedingly precarious no one knows what lary happen the rc lasi i connection the philippines may bo cut oft without notice at any time alie japanese realize too that a war between china and busbia would isolate them from the rest of tho world and they anro anxious that the united states government should act promptly the pacific cable company has had 1 bill before congress for some time asking tor cable concession |