The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-04
CANADIANS PLAN
TRIPLE UNION Of
BRITISH COLONIES

LONDON, july 4-The Ilmes
publishes an article headed New
Imperial Unit. Triple Federation Pro
posed by Canada, West Indies and
Newfoundland" Commenting editor
tally on 'Canada's British Neighbors,"
the Times says:
sour Canadian correspondent pro-
poses the union into one OF the Do
minion Of Canada, Newfoundland and
the British West Indies. 1t is not,
of course, a new suggestion, but 1t
never has been put forward at a time
when it is so likely TO receive serious
consideration Obviously nothing
will come of 1t unless It emerges as
q definite and complete proposition
from the peoples themselves.
Just as the peoples OF Canada
Australia and South Africa have de-
vised the essentials of their unions.
90 must the peoples OF Canada, New
foundland and the British West In
dies work out the details OF the new
union IL they so desire. II they do,
then there is nothing to prevent their
sending representatives. to a conven-
ton which would draft q constitution
for the new dominion. That done,
their governments would approach
the British sovereign and Parliament
They need anticipate, we imagine, no
OppOsllOu at the sldEN
Benefits Of the CanEL
"The opening of the Panama Canal
has broken across the isthmus a new
highway for sea borne traffic. Its ef-
fects so far have been obscured by
the war. but they are certain, never
theless. to be profound and lasting.
Most obvious of them is the new i'm
portance Of the islands which lie in
the gulf over against the eastern
outlet OF the canal. Our correspond
emit shows that Germany tried to In
sure against it by securing the Dan
fish West Indies. the loss OF this out
pest facing the new outpost between
the Atlantic and the Pacific IL not
the smallest part of the price which
Germany paid for the ambitions
which plunged the world into war.
Her chances OF raising a Gibraltar
which would frown with battlements
and guns upon the eastern outlet OF
the Panama canal are gone forever.
The United States has bought the
Danish West Indians. The transaction
WAS but little regarded in this country.
such was the preoccupation Of our peo-
PIE at the moment when IT was con-
cluded, but it is likely to have most
important influence upon the interna-
tional relations and comercial leveiop-
ments of the future.
Trade Opportunities Great.
To link Canada and the West Indies
q federal union would be to do for
anada what the United States seized
chance OF doing for itself Jamaica
ID the other West Indian islands stand
the Panama Canal in the same stra-
DC relation. but on a far larger scale.
as do what were the Danish West In
dies The opportunities for developing
the trade OF Canada in the British West
Indies are great Here the Panama
Canal comes in again. for there Is little
doubt that when the trade conditions Of
the world become normal the wheat of
Western Canada and the products Of
British Columbia will come to Europe
through it In this traffic there is al
most unbounded promise for the Brit
fish West Indies, which would. moreover,
gain vastly by the establishment OF in
innate commercial relations with the
eastern ports Of Canada through the
establishment Of a direct steamship
route Canada in her turn would get
direct from the West Indies products
which she now buys at second hand,
needless to say at an increased cost.
through New York Newfoundland
stands TO gain in the same way by union
with the West Indies. The proposal.
In fact. has much to commend It from
political, strategic and commercial
points Of view"
Importance to Canada.
In the course OF the article to which
the editorial refers the Canadian cor
respondent says:
HCansda already is a great consumer
OF tropical products. Within the last
ten years the imports of these
products into Canada have more than
doubled Apart from the imports of
sugar, three-fourths enter Canada by
way Of the United States. Canada and
the British West Indies would make a
dominion which would be the
economic equal OF the United States.
II not its superior. It would be the
entry into partnership with the rich
young Canadian nation OF q tropical
territory larger than the dominion of
New Zealand. Hitherto Canada has
made no very successful effort to de-
velop relations with the British West
Indies.
present means Of transportation
are largely under the control of the
United States. Canada could thus deal
directly with all the islands and save
the New York brokers' proft and the
cost Of rehandling. Such an arrange
NoAAN nave announcer Important
effect II would cause Newfoundland
TO decide quickly about entering the
confederation. Newfoundland would
get frequent and regular supplies Of
tropical fruits. as well as sugar and
molasses, free Of duty and at a lower
rate Of freight, and she would have
regular facilities to TRANSPORT ber
FISH TO market and TO millions Of con.
sumers
Benefit to West Indies
THE practical advantages OF an
economic and political union to the
British West Indies are equally OBJ
vious. They would have a free, ever
growing market in Canada for their
products. with the free entry Of Cana
dian produce for home consumption.
Closer commercial ties between all
these Islands and Canada have hIther-
10 been impossible because the West
Indies feared that any preference
granted to Canada would cause re-
taliation from the United States, ia
maica refused a Canadian offer Of
reciprocity years ago mainly on this
ground Her - -