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Les diagrammed suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^IMMMK CORRESPONDENCE ON CONFEDERATION! WITH DOMINION OP CANADA. BY C H A S. L E Y Y. ^1 , I A CORRESPONDENOE ON CONFEDERATION WITH DOMINION OF CANADA. BY C H A S. LEV Y. JAMAICA : DeCORDOVA & CO., Printers, PuWishors, Stationers and Bookbinders, 51, Port Royal Street, Kingston. ----- - 1886.- - - - - ----- this CORRESPONDENCE ON CONFEDERATTOIV WITH CANADA. Kingston, 12tii March, 1885. Dear Sir, It being now conclusive that any Reciprocity Treaty with the United States of America is utterly hopeless, and equally clear that Beet Sugar can be, and will continue to be produced at a price that must exclude British West India Sugar from every market of the World, it follows that cane cultivation in this Island must rapidly cease, and that unless some immediate relief can be applied, the rum of all engaged in this Industry will be assured, whilst collate- rally many other Public Interests will suffer in equivalent degree. In this deplorable and critical position, I trust you will share in the reasonable and increasing conviction that the time has arrived when all the circumstances may be calmly and deliberately con- sidered : and that it is desirable, without further delay, to ascertain whether any, and what arrangements can be made with the Do- minion Government of Canada, (where the duty on Sugar is about eight pounds per ton,) for the free admission of all Jamaica Produce into their markets, either by Political Union or Commercial Con- vention, based on a letter addressed by the Premer, Sir John McDonald, on the 25th September last, to the Honorable Michael Solomon, to which I beg to refer you. The only means of obtaining the necessary information on which an accurate judgment can be formed, is by the appointmeiiit of a limited Commission, to be nominated by the Council of this Island, authorized to proceed to Canada and communicate with the Dominion Government on this important subject, and as it would be impracticable to invite a public meeting from all parts of the Colony on this vital question, I further hope that a perusal of the annexed Correspondence will induce you to exercise your influence on the Elected Members of the Council for your Parish, soliciting the nomination of such a Delegation as I have suggested. This would commit neither the Government nor the people of this Colony to any Policy, whilst the outcome will I firmly believe be of great and lasting benefit to both Communities, and in any case will finally settle existing uncertainties. I purposely abstain from enlargement, since any opinions at this stage Avould l)e merely hypothetical, and might be misleading. ^1 7 ^ 1 1 think the wisefcouvpe Is to confine myself to the simple appeal t now make to your cooperation, and leave future issues to your s^ood judgment, when it will have been assisted by the possession of tacts. I remain, Dear Sir, Faithfully yours, . Cm AS. Levy. ■'• ft: ■ Extract of Letttr from Sir John McDonalij to Hon. MwiixkL SoLoMON. : Ottawa, 25TII September, 188^*. Since we had the pleasure of seeing you here, the subject of your unoilicial mission has been discussed in Council. We are of opinion that the question of apolitical union is one surrounded with difficulties, which may however prove not to be so insuperable. Our information is exceedingly limited, and we are theivfore not in a position to express any decided opinion on the subject. If Her Majesty's Government give their consent, the Governnint of Canada will be quite ready to enter upon the consideration of the two important questions; iirst, of a political union, and failing that, of a cominercial arrangement. The discussion of the subject can be had either by letter or with a delegation from your government. Mean- while, we -ihall be very much obliged if you will send us such publi- cations relating to Jamaica, in the way of Blue Books, &c., as are available. . ^ .«. j i. We should also like to get copies of your tariflF, and of your customs and excise laws. t [ tioW £fOOd tacts. IlAEt ect of are of i with i. Our ot in a f Her !anada le two t, of a )e had Meaii- piibli- as aru if vour 6, Lime Street SQUARii, London, 24x11 Octoher, 1884. 7o the Editor of the Chronicle. Sir, My attention has been calKd to certain extracts from your edi- torials, and to the opinions of various Halifax merchants, which have appeared in your columns and have been reproduced in the Gleiuier newspaper of Kincjston, Jamaica, on the subject of the pro- posed incorporation of that island into the Canadian Dominion. These opinions evidently were the result of hasty expression, with- out due reflection or acquaintance with the colony, save of excep- tional and limited character, and believing that they were never intended for publication, I abstain from criticism, my motive being rather to supply such facts and statements as will place at the com- mand of all interested in the question the means of forming more reliable judgment. Probably this course should have recommended itself at the outset to its promoters, and would have prevented the wild speculation and errors which the want of accurate information has produced. The project was propounded by a gentleman, I be- lieve in some respects oflicially connected and resident in Canada, in a series of letters addressed to a member of the Council of Ja- maica, and was strictly confined to that colony. There never has existed any intention of applying the measure generally to all West India Islands. To such a proposition the particulars adduced herein afford ample refutation, and at the same time offer adequate reason why its operation should be restricted in the interest of the Domin- ion, and why it could not otherwise be acceptable to the people of Jamaica. It is perliaps desirable to commence by giving the following table of those resources of the principal W est India dependencies upon which a proper consideration of the subject rests: Demerara ....,• Trinidad Barbadoes Leward Islands, Jamaica Census 1881 Popula- tion. 252,186 (of whom 90,000 are (Coolies.) 153,128 171,860 114,112 580,804 Impori-s. Exports. £2,099,633; £3,208,533 2.399,794 1,162,567 1,321,962 2,452,033 1,198,205 1,549,058 Import Duties. Average Sugar, 5 years, 1882 inclusive. £254,432 196,987 89,681 71,510 267,335 109,844 tons 88,802 do. 52,217 do. 29,005 hhda. 29,856 do. (equal to 26,000 tons \ ^ Assuming the consumption of Canay now entirely dcfx'nd on im- ported food, there exists no prospect of augmentation in this respect, even by t!ie total abolition c*" all duties, which are based on a very low scale, and only amount to about i'.")-K),()(>o annually, including those paid on the large im|)orts of rice, spirits, wine, and tol)acco not j>rodiic(Ml in the Dominion, and if this analysis be aj)plied separ- arately to each of the three colonies, the n-sulL is no less ojiposed to acce})tation. It has been suggested by Mr. Berkeley, Solicitor-General for the Leeward Islands, that in any contemplated arraug.'ments for the confederation of Jamaica with Canada, those islands should be included. In a printed cinuilar istnied by him, he has set down their export of sugar last year at 40,000 hogsheads, or at least '25 per cent, more than Jamaica, and would rejiresent about !Bl,50(),()!)0 of duty. Mr. Berkeley is no doubt a better authority on this point than I am, but in tlie statistical abstracts com}»ileu to the end of 1882, from which I quote, the average exports for the five preceding years, 1882 included, wi're 20,005 hogsheads or, about e(iual to .Ja- maica, but as their ]»opulalion is only 114,000 paying t'7i,500 im port dutii s, the (question of tiieir inclusion must be left to the di'- cision of those ])rin(Mi)allv interested, and on which it is unnecessarv here for me to express any opinions. Governed by the census of 1881, Jamaica has now a population of about 000,000, of whom Sir Anthony Musgiave stated, in a paper read by him before the Colonial Institute in London a few years since, not more than 5 per cent, work on sugar estates, and as the exports of sugar and rum in J 883 represented t'777,50;, (»r 50 per cent, outtd" a total of X'l,^?05, 808, it is clear thai tiie r«'niaining 05 per cent, of the population, contribute less than half to the general export restii'rces In fact, but a small portion labor, whilst the others ]>roduce little beyond their immediate v.ants. To reach a populati'- I so scattered and non-iidustrions, ini}»ort 'duties on food are from I'M) per cent, to 400 per cent. high:M- on rated articles than in any otl i' colony, with 12/> per cent, on unenumerated merchan- dise as compared with 4 per cent, elsewhere It remains, therefore, evident tb.it at the outside not more than one-third of the food con- sumed is imported, and that if these heavy charges were removed, in many instances 30 per cent, and 40 })er cent, on first cost, con- sumption vould be rapidly doubled. The imports in 18h3 repre- sented £1,591,900, and it is this suoply with the prospective in- crease reft-nHMl to, tliat Canada \v<»ul(l possesM in the evont of con- fcdi ration, indcjK'iuK'nt of wliicli, tlu' g('ograj>!iical position of Jainai«'a on tlu; coniijletion of the Isthmus oanal, is no (loul)t dentinoil to form the nucleus for new and important trattic;. Two gi'ntlcnu'U rcprt'sonting tiu^ West India body, with the sanction of the British (rovcrnmcnt, are now on their way to Washington to assist Mr. West, the IJritish minister tlierc, in ne- gotiating for a reciprocity treaty with th»' iVmerican Gov •rnmeiit, leaving it optional to each colony to j>articipate in any ae(^MnpIished cotitract. The Colonial Office have, however, niay reason of their large ])roduction and h»w duties. Anyone who will- liowever, take th<* trouble to look at the schedule of duties, append, ed to this letter, collected in Jamaica in 1883, on rated and tnhuUt- nm. articles, all of which are jtrodueed in America, would find that ]H'actically about i;22(),()()(» would ositi'puted and nuiQ.terruptecl pos. 8. Session. Quality invariably follows demand, and in the case of Canada obstacle, if nny, is reduced to a minimum, for should change or improvement be needed, producers are spared the difficulty of finding new inventions — they have only to adopt the existing; ones of their neighbors. Few countries posses a finer or more diversified climate than Jamaica, or a richer and more fruitful soil, offering large field for enterprise and industry; but as outside the mutual treatment ex- presssd in treaties, ccAjtracting parties take no interest in each others affairs, Jamaica with these advantages would have nothing further to gain from reciprocity with the iTnited States of America. With federation the case assumes s. totally different aspect; old links would be preserved, new ties created, and a basis of common in- terest established, which would lead to the introduction of a large number of practically educated men, whose presence would instil, new vigor and vitality into its social, commercial and political life, so long languishing from depletion, whilst their example would im- part emulation to the numerous and able peasantry now inert for want of this incentive. A public opinion would be once more revived and a proper control exercised by an invigorated community over its present unreasonable expenditurCj which under Crown Govern- ment has been doubled. In doing this vested rights would ne- cessarily be held ^acred, and at the outset, computmg the annual saving at only £50, 000, this amount, with the roimposition of ton- nage dues and the interest payable by Canada on differential public debt, would supply any deficiency arising out of the admission of all goods duty free, without the necessity of other new taxation of any kind. I may here ask, what is the past history of Jamaica ? The institution of slavery was at the outset foisted on the Island by !Hritish law. All the evils associated with its devolpement, as all the disasters which have arisen since its abolition, and the sudden with- drawal of labor, have alike been pla»*ed at the doors of her un- fortunate colonists, who have had to bear the consquences of a due want of prescience on the part of the mother country. The Efiglish Government and the people, absorded in more important and do- mestic que^tionn, have long ceased to regard her necessities either with wisdom or justice ; the optics they turned towards her fifty years since, arc the same they now employ, forgetful that a new generation has arisen between whom neither the law' nor any qthcj^ moral fort^e r<*t'Ognizes any distinction. Their interest in her ]»ros- t)erity has so long weakened by its attraction to othur quarters, and las so gradually diminished that they fail to appreciate how mueJi these agencies hava contributed to impair their judgment of the wants needed for her re-generation. It is because I believe this will bu better attained through ccnfederation and the sympathies awakened by closer relationshin, that I advocate a movement which meetn ^ntb ^on?r?l apfr*^'!^ t»n this M^\ mK' bcoin^p^ ] hivf^ faith ti^at. '■' aside from pecuniary considerations, the moral redeinption of tho community will be gradually but surely accomplished by ti.? uresis, table influences to which I attach so much force. For my boldness in this course, I trust my long and lai-ge stako in the island, as well as my deep interest in its people, will be ac- cepted by all parties as ample apology, and that you will allow it also to plead my excuse for this lengthy trespass on your patience. I am, sir, Your obod't serv't, Chas. Lew. Schrdvir of ArfHr.t awl DuUpr collpcted thereon in Jamaini for •Mth Sept., 1^ -«-(t// of which can be mpplied from Vie U>uted }ia:H)n IWei . wet, salted or cured . . Bread or Biscuit Butter Candles, Tallow Cheese • • • • Fish Flour, wheat Hams Lard Meal Oil Pork, wet or salted Soap Sugar, refined Tobacco, Leaf Do. manufactured Tongues, wet or salted Wheat Wood pitch pine . . • • • • • • Do., white pine Do., Shingle, Cypress and Wallaba Candles, wax or spermacetti Do.. compv»si*ion Matches Uneuumerated Merch^'ndize the 1/eiir'mfh' W States. £ 175 1,471 1 3 y.278 9 5 5.176 15 1 18 11 7 1,393 17 6 32,351 4 7 43,238 1 979 17 3 1,719 15 9 1,507 13 1 16.460 5 6 4,.107 8 11 7.375 14 8 830 16 6 3,119 7 6 4.459 8 10 753 1'^ 4 67 13 6 3,334 13 7 3.305 11 I 558 3 342 14 8 451 4 8 8,. 538 10 11 £129,293 3 10 87.735 19 8 £317.029 3 6 ' Sir, f,, LiMK Street Squa.ik, Loxi>o>J, E. C, ISth Novkmbkr, 1884 To the Editor qf' th» Glkankr, Jamaha. Some a.iys since I addressed a letter to the Editor of the liaU fm Chrolide, and a^it ^.7 find H« ^^7 X^^ ^\m\^ Of 10 Jamaica newspapers and be there discussed, 1 think it desirable to supplement its contents with a few further remarks, from which, beyond what was absolutely necessary, I abstained at the outset, lest they m?^ht prejudice the eflForts then started for effecting a Reciprocity Treaty with the United States of America on behalf of the British West Indian Colonies, but in which arrangements for the reasons I have already assigned, Jamaica could net be expected to concur. It is clear that in rejecting the proposal for Canadian Confed- eration little was known of its merits, and it is to be deplored .that a more suspensory resolution was not adopted. I am, however, in- duced to my present course because I believe the telegraphic mess- age from Lord Derby, laid before the Council on 20th October, was despatched entirely in the interest of the larger Sugar Colonies, and is based on re», jgnised fallacies calculated to mislead Jamaica peo- ple, tending not only to engender hopes that have no reasonable foundation, but to divert their attention from the more practical and desirable path exceptionally open to them. I have hitherto endeavor'^d to set out the indisputable benefits associated with Con- federation, and it now only remains to place against them the draw- backs to any Reciprocity Treaty, and the utter hopelessness of such a convention b'^ing accepted by tlie American Government with the limited and contracted margins affirmed by the English Govern- ment. Reciprocity implies two essential conditions; first the mutual enjoyment of benefits never before possessed, and next that those benefits, though differing in character, should the equal in impor- tance and indentical in value. Now where is the novelty, or where the advantage to accrue to the United States in ceding to them by Treaty the monopoly of certain food supplies which they have already long held and con- trolled by reason of natural advantages. ? I rere at the very out- set the case breaks down, but the colla]>se is more marked and o\vy- whelming when the mutual considerations are weighed. For the easier and less complicated treatment of this portion- of the subject I confine myself, as hitherto, to the three larger pro^ duciniic C<»lonies. Their entire revenue from ('ustoms dcpartmenj, in \^S2 was £641,100 but this includes the duties on spirits, very larg) imports of rice, and a few other articles not produced in America, and if the number to be affected by reciprocity is brought within the narrov confines presented in Lord Derby's message to the Govenor of Tamaica, then the total amount of Revenue to bo effaced infav* of American productions would fall considerably under X200,000, the rr-tes of dutie? in those dependencies bcin[» lar^eljr under tbo&e (isseBsed in J^maica^ 11 tiirn:- Aga'mst this what is the United States expected to offer in re- Tuns Sugar. Phns. Phns. Rum. M(>lilSS08. In 1882 Demerara produced - - 139,187 Trinidad " - - 55,326 Barbadoes " - - 53,735 18,348 20,220 20,078 l,5tX) 30,305 151 Total - 248,248 75,331 30,871 I/oaviiig out Molasses and Rum, and dealing only with SuQ^ar, on which the duty is about £8 a ton, it would represent in round figur- es but little short of £2,000,000 sterling, so that simply for a priv- ilege by Treaty, already existing by force of natural eauses- the United States are ex|>ected to give the British W. I. Colonies free entry into their markets for all their sugar prod notions, which, from the three largest alone would entail a loss of Revenue to the States of about £2,000,000 sterling, and this is what the British Government ask the Colonists to believe may be realized. For their agricultural products, the United States seek no fa- vored markets; it is for their manufactures that they are anxious to find outlets. Their powers of production are ])rodigions, their re- sources unboundad, and already though scarcely touched outstrip the demands of their large popuU*tion. But there is tnother aspect which calls for equal consideration. All parties recognise the cer- tainty that Sugar will soon be placed on the Free List, To uphold a native production of less than 200,000 hhds. American consumers now pay a duty of over £7,000,000 annually. Out of this large sum provision can easily be made to satisfy the claims of Southern Planters; the re.«jidue is but an addition to an already large surplus of Revenue not wanted, and misused. Profiting by the mistake of England in applying to the entire body a relief needed but by one member, siigar alone will be liberated, and form the bridge over which American manufactures will find their way into new markets. It has already been so utilized in basing Trade Treaties with the Sandwich Islands and Mexico; it will be similarly employed in Con- ventions vrith Spain — xnd with all who have equivalent adv.mtages to offer in return. By this means with one blow two strokes will be accomplished. The effect will be to choapem the raw material tc* t'tieir coiixum srs, but tograd.ially n'lu?,UL> pi-t>lun"M those b.-nefits, the want of which is severely felt in K iropjan mirkets; and this is tei* onting^ncy that cane grovv.n':} will have to face. If th" matter were left to those principally interested, it is open to b.'lief that some solution might be found for affording, by this moans, temj)orary relief to the depressed British \V. I. sugar indus- try, but to any such remedy the jealousy and cupidity of Engla?id offers insurmountable barriers. Already in response to the maim- fAcfiu'ing interest, Guvf rnm^nit jf, plei2;ed that no dijferpiitial <\\\^ V2 I ties shall be retaiiuMl against English manura(!tnrei*s in favor of those of the United States, and this is the Death Warrant alike to Reciprocity and Colonists. The morality of this policy cannot b) justified. If cane culivation expires as it must, in failing to find a remunerative market, then Eiisxlaml loses all the advantages of the past trade that must die with it; where then the virtue of re- fusing to Colonists the means of existence, by tranferring to others the advantages that under any circumstances England must lose. The Board of Trado have declared the interest of the ]>ritish con- sumer opposed to the interest of the Colonial Producer, they refuse to countervail IJotmty-fed produce which is the canker worm of Tree Trade, and they now impose insuperable difhculties to the realiza- tion of the only ho])eleft to her unfortunate Cv^Ionists. Jamaica en- joys exceptional advantages, and it remains to be seen whether those now at the helm of her affairs will lead her safety into the only Harbor of liefugo left open. I am etc., CiiAS. Levy. Sir, G, LoiE Stkeet Square, London, E.C, 29x11 November, 1884. 7o the Editor of the Chronicle, Halifax. As my motive in addressing you on the 24th Oct. last was clearly detine>i at the outset, it is greatly to be deplored that in discussing a project so replete with mutual advantages to both communities, a larger consideration has not been given to mutual sensibilities, and if as you have suggested my advocacy has been limited to the interests of Jamaica, I have teninion, venture to refer in a brief but comprehensive form to the undor.bted gains that would accumu- late to the Dominion from a realization of the proposed confederation. Against \\ni free entry of sugar, involving a loss of Dominion Rev- enue of aboqt £200,000 annually, I set down the free entry int() Jamaica of all Dominion prodi^ctf, vi\\\'% would depriv<^ the Coloq. 13 t'or of ike to lot b) find a JOS of f re- ethers lo«e. con- refuse Iree all /il- ea en- letlier o the >. last i that ► both ist of at least as lari^e ail amount of customs resources, but as the Rurrender of exceptionally heavy duties on food would naturally tend rapidly to double consumption amonost her larsjfe population, the prospective tendencies would still more manifestly be in favor of Canada. You express surprise that Jamaica has not hitherto taken more of her wants from Canada, but this is a feature \/hich exclu- sively points to an apparent lack of enterprise on the part of Canada. The Western portions of the United States, before they were con- nected by Railway and Canal with the sea-board, murmured at a similar condition of thingjs. The real cause of this exclusion from the West India trade is, that heretofore Canadian products were un- able to reach the ocean during somany months of the year as to prac- tically interrupt the needful continuity of supply, but as Halifax is now permanently accessible to all the Provinces, their products will share the same facilities of transit that iish has hitherto enjoy- ed, audit now remains for Canadians either with or without annexa- tion to compete for the business. Her ])opulation cannot surely be insensible to those material and commercial instincts which operate in other communities. England, although possessing extensive de- pendencies which aid to absorb her surplus manufactures, is ever seeking new and additional outlets. For forty years she has preached the doctrine of Free Trade, with no other result than to excite the apprehensions of her conteni})oraries, who, beneath the seducive banner of philanthropy, detec^t the treacherous flag of National selfishness, which would overwhelm every market in the world, and crush in others the very germs of national enter|>rise and reliance, which can only be nourished under the fostering shield of protection. France in her Algerian and 'J'unisian accpiisitions, her Maver a very grave mistake to assert that Nova Scotia has been without a competitor in the fish trade with Colonial markets. None better than Canad- ians know the difficulties and siruffgles that have existed between themselves and Americans on the fishery question. For some time past by steam conveyance large quantities of all descriptions of fish have been shipped from New York to Jamaica, with ai^ (HVieHsiiJug inelinution whi-'h fhreatr'n>. [\ie cxtinrtion <^( o\<\ fmuc^ 14 It I of siipi'ly. I liavo not had an opportunity of reading the letter of your correspondent, who points out that in the event of annex- ation United States Hsh would, under the AVashington Treaty, enter free into .lauiaiea niarket.**, nor am I acquainted with the terms of the Treaty itself ; but such a conclusion is evidently in- correct, for at the date of its signature Jamaica was not a portion of the Dominion. In this we have a clear guide in tlie most favor- ed nation 'J'reaty betweeji ihe United Kingdom and United States, in whicli the West India Colonies having by inadvertencce been omitted, the latter cannot claim entrance intv Anierican markets under this convention, but are seeking these facilities under a new one. In any case, however, it is erroneous to affirm that annexation would not extend the market for this article. 1 he removal of a duty representing 25 per cent on first cost would ensure that result. i3eyond expressing my dissent from the misconceptions on which they are based, and my great regret for the spirit in which they are expressed, it is impossible for me in the limited time at my command to deal as fully as I would desire with your other remarks. Assertion is not argument, and whatever the result of the present exchange of ojiinions, I am assured a general desire ]>revails that no irritation should intrude on the satisfactory relations that have hitherto existed between those who are part ?.nd parcel of the same people and owe allegiance to the same throne. Fairly treated, as the masses of other countries, the people of Jamaica offer favorable contrast. A more orderly and law abiding people are not to be found, and if they do not labor as they might it is because of the bounties of nature which surround ihem, and the want of those ni- centives which I believe annexation would impart. Speaking with all re-poct to t je reasonable aspirations of my fellow-colonists, I think you over-rate their legal claim to represen- tation in the C^anadian Parliament, or if legal their actual desires. I believe two or three Representatives at the outset would satisfy their wishes, and that whoever they may select, would do anything but discredit to any deliberative body with which they may be as- sociated. A community raising without dithculty a rc^venue of about £600,000 cannot be said to be in difticulties. The sudden collapse in the sugar industry has extended to other and larger centres, and there is no evidence to prove, nor is it reasonable 1o assert, that in the case of Jamaica iL is a-^c^ribable either to au idle population, lack of business shrewdness, or improvidence. In seeking annexation, it is not proposed to obtain help that will not be more than abundantly requited, and so far from being a |)urden to the Dominion, the projected moveinent would, I am per- suaded, entail mutual and lasting cause for satisfaction. If I have succeeded in convincing you that the scheme is neither absurd nor unreasonable, and if the people of both communities can l)e ii^dnced to enter, at least, into a dispassionate oonsid«r'ition of he letter )f annex- Treaty, with the lently in- a portion st favor- h\ States, icee been markets er a new mexation >val of a ure that tions on in wliicli meat mv t,' remarJvH. present Is that no hat have the same 'eatevl, as favorable ot to be !e of the those m- s of my represen- I desires. tl satisfy anythiny: IV he !is- ^enue of 3 sudden id larger liable to an idle help that 1 i»eino; a am pi'r- ^ neither lities ean ration pf 15 lis merits, I will have been amply repaid for my efforts towards that end. Difficulties there may be, but in view of the great inter- ests involved, it would be a reproach to their common intelligence and forbearance if means were not devised to surniount them. 1 am, ClIAS. Lkvv. KixGsroN', Jamaka, '24TI1 Januakv, 188'). ToSrUfK'KR JONKS, E<(]., Ottawa. Mv Dkar Sir, Our common interest in the pro]>osed Confederation of this Island with the Canadian Dominion will I venture to hope, bi> sutficient apology for my troubling you with this coinmunicaii<»n,and jbviate the necessity of further introduetiou. I have not been a(-quanted with the content> of your previous correspondence with Mr. Solomon, but he has kindly fo warded to me for perusal, your letters of the 22iid and 2»ith ulto. and 7th inst., and it is in consecpience <: f my belief that certain conclusions in these documents, if upheld in Canada, will cause fatal opposition in this Colony that I am induced to address you. In your remarks of 2t!th, Deer, you refer only to the admission of Jamaica, but Mr. J. J. St( wart ajijiears to contemplate the an- nexation of the whole of the British West Indies, the effect of which if ])ractical>le, which it is not, would be to throw nearly 30(),()00 'J'ons of Sugar on the Canadian markets, and would be alike disas- trous to the Dominion Revenue and the cane producer. The letter of a Sugar Merchf.nt, in the New York /[(raid oi 22nd Deer, last, clearly upholds the views I have long since expressed, lieciprocity will bring the cane growers no relii-f. Sugar in Ameriea is bound to go on the free list, and recognizing this faet, Americans may accept any good, however small, in excharg" for what they are willing to give up for nothing, but, Avhilstthe })osition of our largest sister colonies is as disastrous as I have described (and I enclose copy of extract from a memorandum of negotiatious, by Mr. Lubbock, in Nov. last from Washington to Mr. Quintin Hogg, Deputy Chairman of the West Indian Committee in Loiidon,in proofs of this fact.) Jamaica exceptionally has considerable interest in other Products besides Sugar, and although all more or less depend on this great staple, the connexion is in some instances so remotely collateral that it becomes difficult to educate people here to the needful point of ap- preciation; they require therefore, all the more considerate handling by reason of their diversified interests, and assumed through mis- taken independence, and unless they could be shown that they gain at least as much as they part with, and above all, that the arrange- ment is with Jamaica alone, there is little hope of their being fa- vourably influenced. 111 10 lowhatovcr aitcniative the tliree large Colonies may thei'e- fore be driven by their iieeeswities and large productions, and the Leeward Islands by similar reasons, ( the smallness of their popula- tion considered) Jamaica has no such need. The latter possessing a j)opulation nearly equal to all the other Islands combined, now pro- duces but 20,000 Tons of sugar, and any gain to producers by its introduction free into Caiiaointed by the (irovernment of this Colony, to visit Canada, ascertatn t^ie working of Confederation generally in the Provinces, and then negotiate Officially with the Dominion Government. All efforts here must now, therefore, be directed to bring the needful pressure to bear on our < Council for this end. When the results are generally known, both communities will be able to de- cide and I trust fovourably on the merits and benefits of the proj)o- sition. 1 remain, ^')ear Sir, Faithfully yours. CiiARi.Ks Levy. Extract lltf erred to on PfKje 15. At all the discussions in which Mr. Lubbock took ))art at the Colonial Office, respecting the proposed treaty with the United Slates, it was assnmetl that the admission of sugar from the liritish West Indies duty free into the United Slates would be unaccompa- nied by the admission of other sugar duty free, and the advantage of such an arrangement to the liritish West Indies was so obvious, and the gain to the Sugar Industry was so great, that considerable modifications of the existing tariffs and the imposition of somewhat heavy direct taxation upon the Sugar Industry was not thought too great a price to pay for the anticipated boon. The Spanish 'JVeaty has completely altered the state of affairs, and we now find ourselves in this position, that while siich a Treaty as was proposed will not give us any direct advantages, the absence of such a Treaty will make the position of the Sugar Industry ten fold worse than it was before. Whilst therefore the necessity for such a Treaty is obvious, it is no longer a Treaty which will give the West India Sugar Industry an important advantage over the Suijar Industries of other Coun- tries, but one which wnll merely remove a crushing disadvantage the British West Indies would otherwise be under as compared with Cuba and Porto Rico. Shut out from English markets by Fort?lgn bounties, and with such a disadvantage in the American Market as is created by the Spanish Treaty, the position of the Sugar Industry in the British VVest Indies would not only be critical but well nigh hopeless, nor would a reduction of their duties by one-half on West Indian Sugar by the United States be of the slightest use. IS Saint Ann's Bay, 25 Fkbjiuary 1885. My Dear Sirj I have reail with very much interest your well-written letters on the subject of Confederation with Canada, and it is surprising to nio so little interest is evinced by those who would larjTjely benefit l>y the sid-iption of your suggestions. Now that the Convention with the Tnited States will not be accepted by the British Cabinet, if even the United States Senate would ratify it, I think it is necessary a fresh effort should be made to call forth public support. Our sugtir industry is paralyzed, and why? Because it is exposed to an unfair competition with bounty-fed Beet. On the prosperity or failure of the sugar industry every other interest hinges — and in my opinion the way to h-ad to pro8])erity is to tind a market for our }»roducts where they will be admitted free. True, we should have also to receive products of that country free also. Canada would I be- lieve if the subject was prop«'rly brought before her peoj)le, willing- ly accept us; and I believe if the matter was fully explained here, oiu' people would be glad to join. Then, as Mr. Spencer Jones in his lettc published in t'u' IVehnrny sliews, we should get such a con- tribution from the Dominion as would make good the Revenue we should lose by the admission of Canadian products free of duty. There is a cry f«>r cheap food; our people would get it — there is a cry for a favourable niarket for our sugar, &c., Canada affords this, and I ain sure every interest from the smallest peasant proprietor to the largest landholder would be benefited. I sincerely hope you will persevere in calling attention to this im})ortant matter, Jamai- cans would in the end thank y(»u for your efforts on their behalf. I do so for what you have already done and in advance for what you will do. I remain, ray dear sir. Chas. Levy, Ksq. Yours faithfully, 3rioHAEL Solomon.