The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-01

New York, July 30.-Taking over
the Island Of Jamaica, in the West
Indies by the United States as one
Of the establishments after the world
war, is suggested by Mrs. AmyeI
Reade Janet. Mrs. Janet is the
widow Of former governor Of the
island. -
1.-THE U. S. then would have one Of
the finest. richest colonies in the
world" said she recently. 1T would
have one Of the most important CEN
ters in the West Indies for safe
guarding approach to the Panama
canal. Jamaica, be 1t remembered,
is little more than a day away from
the canal and Germany has cast
longing eyes upon the island. Con-
troll Of the island would give the
United States a magnificent naval
station in the West Indies beside
which the Virgin islands would pale
into insignif1cance, and, in addition
to the advantages this entails; 1t
would also have an immensely
wealthy territory whose products
could soon be made, with proper de-
velopment, into a revenue Of many
millions a year.
IT am a Britisher, Of course"
continued Mrs. Janet, land
think, therefore, that when
urge the taking over Of the
island by the United States you
may see that I am reluctantly
admitting the island can never
come to its proper position in
the world under British rule.
you perhaps have no idea, here
Of the deep underlying sentiment
there is in jamaica for it's acquisition
! ~
population, am convinced, is en-
would be, in large part, against it,
This, Of course, is because of the
profit that the whites make from
| the blacks.
White Would Like Change.
I A good percentage OF the white
population, however, would welcome
the changing of Jamaica into an
American colony, for they recognize
! the times, has staggeringly immense
possibilities of development, and can
never. come to anything without a
control that will bring to it large
capital through which the interior
could be opened up.
1.-THE idea. Of Jamaica being
given up by Great Britain is not
so far-fetched. either, as it
seems at first glance. The
United States has already lent
to Great Britain hundreds of
millions of dollars. How that is
to be paid back, what arrange
ments there are for security,
do not know. But what could be
a more ready solution than that,
for a part Of these advances at
F-Ia % T.,
should be turned over to the
United States by Great Bril-
tatn?" 49,.
/ That Jamaica is playing a not in
considerate part in the world war
was one. of the most interesting
statements made by Mrs. Janet re-
garding the island. s.
Although / am advocating the
surrender OF Jamaica to the United
States, do not wish to indicate that
Jamaica isn't loyal" she said. ia
maica has already given 1000 men
to Great Britain-7,000 natives.
They have all volunteered, too. They
began enlisting early in the war. At
first they were used mainly for non
combatant work, but now they are
on the fighting line" > ~' s.~
In detailing this novel plan, Mrs.
Janet went at some length into the
history Of the island. into its present
wealth, and its present allegiance.
Her statements reflected the expert
ence gained by a number Of years Of
residence in jamaica. Particularly
she showed that she was anxious to
bring about ownership by the United
States in the belief that Jamaica
could be made into a really import
ant territory and that it would re-
suit in the inevitable uplifting Of the
native population.
Mrs. Janet is a relative Of the
late Charles Reade, one OF the best
known Of English authors. She has
been lecturing throughout the West
Indies and expects to give a series
of lectures in the United States next
e.