The Washington herald., 1916-07-26
The Dutch West Indies.


If the plan of the United States to purchase
the Danish West Indies is consummated it prob
ably will be recorded by strategsts as the crown
ing military achievement of the Wilson admins
tration The islands are to be bought for $2s,-
100000, and those vague rights OF discovery in
Greenland that the United States now hold The
cash consideration is about what two Dread
noughts cost. The rights in Greenland may never
be of much value to this country. .
From the standpoint of this nation the cost
price is cheap Whether future years will put
the bargain on par with the purchase of Alaska
is matter for speculation. Of course, though
the islands will prove of much commercial value,
no holds idea that they will yield such
wealth as Alaska has given. But in our relations
with other nations the island may keep us from
war, and war today almost inestimable
expenditures.
One of the most interesting phases of the
proposed purchase will be its effect on Germany.
Some years ago the Unitel States was near to
a purchase of the islands, but Germany let Den
mark know that Berlin did not approve of the
sale and the deal was not made. Denmark then
could not afford to offend Germany.
But now Germany has her hands full And
after the war Germany will need Denmark s
friendship. There is little likelihood that Berlin
will again frown upon the sale. 1t is to be ex-
pected that the two houses of the Danish Parlia-
ment and the two branches OF Congress will lose
no time in approving the treaty transferring the
islands to the United States.
Then State Department should open ne
gotistions with Holland for the purchase of the
Dutch West Indies. These are the islands that
Germany has been watching with covetous eyes
ever since she determined to establish naval
base in the Caribbean Sea. There are six of these
islands lying off the coast of Venezuela. The
largest are Curacao, Aruba and Buen Aire They
are 7Io miles east of the Atlantic end OF the
Panama Canal and several hundred miles nearer
to Colon than our nearest naval base, Guanta-
namo.
Naval strategists say that in the hands of a
European power the Dutch West Indies would
be to the Panama Canal what Helgoland would
be to the Kel Canal if Helgoland still was
owned by Britain.
Until the present war Germany probably
could have prevented Holland from selling the
Dutch West Indies easily as she pre-
vented Denmark from selling the Danish West
Indies few years ago, but today
Holland most likely could negotiate the sale
without Berlin's interference or without fear of
German anger After the war, it probably will
be much more difficult for the United States to
obtain control of the islands and the chance of
a century may be lost.
Holland needs money today and it is likely
she would name consideration as reasonable as
the price for which Denmark is willing to dis
pose of her possessions.
The strategic importance Of the West Indies
was explained by Senator Lodge when he was
chairman OF the Foreign Relations Committee
He said:
$50 long these islands arc in the market
there always is danger that some European pow
er may purchase or try to purchase them This
would be an infraction of the Monroe doctrine
and would at once involve the United States in
very serious difficulty with the European
power which sought the possession OF the
islands.
"In the interest of peace it is of great i'm
portance that these islands should pass into the
hands of the United States and cease to be a
possible source of foreign complications, which
might easily lead to war. From military point
OF view the value of these islands to the United
States can hardly be overestimated"