Governor Montes de Oca’s report accuses traders such as David O’Keefe of exploiting islanders.

What happened

Governor José Montes de Oca argued for “protecting the people against their exploiters,” accusing traders of “shamelessly taking advantage” of islanders, after O’Keefe and the Jaluit Company had complained that government agents forced people to make copra for them. To compete with the traders, he backed a Spanish citizen, Manuel Villazón, in a trade station run with a Yapese chief, which failed within three years.