The New York herald., 1921-04-24
Americanizing British Colonies

Great Britain has so long borne the
reputation of being the most efficient,
enterprising and successful Of coloniz-
ing Powers that few question her lead
ership in this important department Of
world government; yet Lieutenant
Colonel Sir SAMUEL HoARE, G. NJ. G.,
Nj. p, not only assails as backward
and weak her policies and administra-
ton in the British West Indian posses
sions, but he asserts that the colonial
authorities have neglected to profit
by the lessons set for them by the
United States and the Central Amer
ican nations.
The peg on which these assertions
hang is British Honduras, a Crown
colony lying between Mexico and Qua
temala, with an area larger than
that Of the Republic of Salvador. 1t
Is protected from destructive wind
storms, does not suffer from earth
quakes or volcanic eruptions; It's soil
is rich It's natural resources are exten-
sive; but in spite OF these advan-
tages Colonel HoARE declares in the
Nineteenth Century and After the
colony is "as neglected and undevel-
oped as the Canadian Northwest of
a century ago" 1t is practically val
ueless to Its neighbors," and "in-
stead Of being an example to them of
good government 1t lags behind them
In the walks OF civilized life" Sal
vador has 100000 inhabitants
British Honduras 10000. The city
Of Guatemala has 100000 people |;
Belize has $4,000. It's neighbors ex-
ceed 1t in miles Of railroads, In well
built highways, In other evidences OF
progress. And British Honduras Is
said to be only slightly worse in these
respects than certain other British
possessions in tropical America. Col
onel HoAEE would have Governor
General for the West Indies and i'm
prove their condition through central
ICED and unified administration. The
fob would be one for a big man, and
he says:
TO ind the big man has been the
object OF American administration in
the tropics. and his discovery has
been the secret OF It's success. Presi-
dent TAFT was sent to the Philip
pines. General WooD to Cuba. whilst
General GoErHALs and Colonel Con-
GAS In Panama succeeded, where DE
LKssEPs and the French had failed,
in saving thousands OF human lives
and carrying out ono OF the great
works OF the world
Colonel HoARE asserts that the au.
thorities OF British Honduras have
not done all they might or as much
rs they should to insure healthful liv-
ing conditions. lie adds:
Private enterprise--in tho form.
for instance, OF the United Fruit
Company--is generations In advance
OF British public opinion, official and
unofficial At Quiragua in Guato-
mala the fruit company has spent
100000 In building an UP TO date
hospital. primarily for It's employees,
from whose chronic sickness IL suf-
fered serious economic loss. but SEQ
ondarily for the general public.
There a remarkable stan Of doctors
and nurses. half OF them English
and Scotch, have proved the futillty
OF our Official scepticism upon health
questions. They have stamped out
biackwater fever they have taught
the natives to take quininc. they
have stopped the spread OF yellow
fever, and with the help OF tho
Rockefeller Foundation they are now
nghting the prevalent disease OF
hookworm."
On the subject of labor control and
distribution this authority points out
that there are "stagnant pools Of un-
In some British West In