The Washington herald., 1921-02-21
Senator Proposes Ex-
change of Indies to Can
eel War Debt.
.SAYSLOAN INTEREST
HAS NOT BEEN PAID
Claims U. S. Needs Is
lands to Protect Coast
From Enemy Raids.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
The proposal that the United
States purchase from Great Britain
the British West Indies for sg.275.-
100000, the amount of the American
war loan to England. is TO be dis
cussed in the senate this week.
Senator Reed. Of Missouri. has in
troduced a resolution providing that
the executive be requested 10 ascer-
tain from the London government
whether Great Britain is willing to
consider the cession OF the islands
to the United States and he stated
last night that he would address
the Senate IN the measure within a
few days
To Cancel Debt.
The resolution says nothing bout
forEiving the British debt TO the
American government. but this IL
exactly what senator Reed had in
mind in proposing that England be
sounded on the question Of parting
should bear fruit England would
cede TO the United States the six
archipelagoeS on the south AtIar-s-r,
Coast OF this country ano IN.
United States would cancel tho
| British indebtedness.
The question a. u now presents
itself is one Of arranging for some
salvage from what may become -
\ tOsal loss 10 the United StateS
Whether America will be repaiI IN
full or even in large part for tn.
loans to n" allies tCtaling nearly
$4,000. .OO0. 0u0 H. a matter which T.
being debated at home and abroad
No interest has been Daid on thu
loans. even by Great Britain. for
nearly two years. negotiations for
the refundinE Of the borrSwincs
over a long period are an p5ogres-
and the principal allies are actively
urging tn. cancellation Of all IN.
I International war loans a. a means
OF quiukly restoring the credit Of
European nations.
Britain in Lead.
Great Britain. itself. has takOn
the leadership IN the movement Tor
cancellation OF the loans. having
sounded the United States daiinit,.Iv
on the proposition. though unsu,-
CesSfully up to date. II -
ccived that England vii r..-r
representations under a. Es-r DE.
| administration and Il fs Erzo cor
ceived that Development IN i-ter-
national affairs event 1v may
/ force the cancellation o. ~ a-ct
to this country.
In such a cuntiuCeury- tho ccSsinn
| 10 the United States Of the British
and French islands on this side 0C
I the Atlantic would constitute sal
Z wage and a consideration for the
cancellation of the allied debt.
Senator Reed will tell the senate
that the application of the principle
( Of the Monroe doctrine and d/Strat'-
= Gic considerations make IL desirable
that all the islands living OF tho
American coast should he under
/ American control. The West Indian
I possess ions Of several European ma
tions not only flank the American
coast. but command the approaches
/ TO the Panama Canal.
spurned by British.
The British Island of Bimini is
so close that long-range gum
could shell Miami. il is asserted.
while war with Great Britain e.
J rPEdrucO dS nhlnlnkahlF. Snunu
4 policy Of defense would take no
/ chances. il IS contendcd. with snv
control Of these strategic points nv
another power. II was such con-
siderations that prompted tho
! United States TO purchase the Nir-
gin Islands from Denmark for S25-
oo0,oo0 and thus fores;aIl any sale
, of the islands To any European
? power. Germany having ALREADY AT
I tempted to purchase them.
Whether the British government
would be disposed to part with the
British West Indies in considera-
tion Of cancellation of the loan aN-
pears to he a question. when w.
G. MCAdoo proposed such a bargain
a year ago British statesmen said
II would not be considered seriously.
and protests emanated from some
Of the islands Since the introduc-
tion Of the Reed resolution the
proposition has been spurned IN
London.