Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-01-14

w HETHER Uncle Sam or
AN/ John Bull owns the islands
OF Dominica, Tobago, Ne
Wis and Anguilla isn't a
question to bring the average Ameri-
can citizen down with an acute at
tack of insomnia. Neither is he like
ly to develop nervous indigestion over
whether the Stars and Stripes or the
tricolor waves over Martinique and
Guadeloupe. Unless his youthful
alteration Of pirates who sailed the
Spanish main has led him to an in
tensive study of their old haunts, he
probably would have to bring out a
microscope and search the map hard
before declaring his ability to bound
Tobago, Nevis, Martinique or Guade-
loupe. For the West Indies usually
mean pirates and buried gold to the
average American, and nothing else,
unless. since prohibition, bootleg IL
Quor.
A Last Western FoothoId.
But Senator Reeds resolution last
week requesting the President to
sound out the attitude Of France and
Great Britain toward ceding their
possessions in the West Indies, IL
adopted, would go long way toward
throwing light on what must become
an extremely important question of
the future. regardless of whether the
senator's suggestion for settling the
war debts by this method ever reaches
the stage of serious consideration.
Grouped under the very shadow of
the United States, these tiny islands
form one of the last strongholds OF
European dominion in the west.
Whether they will ever constitute a
serious menace in war or in the COM
merce of peace is largely matter of
personal opinion. Senator Reed sees
in them this menace.
The resolution, which is yet to be
disposed of by the Senate, requests
the President to Ascertain whether
the government of the United King
dom of Great Britain is will
ing to discuss the cession by 1t to the
United States of all or any part of its
possessions in the West Indies, in
Guiding the islands of Trinidad, and
also the Bermuda Islands.
THE President is further requested
to ascertain whether the government
of the republic of France is willing to
discuss the cession by it to the United
States Of all or any part of its pos
sessions in the Lesser Antilles. includ-
ing the islands of Grand Terre, Guade-
loupe. Marie Galanta and Marti-
niQue."
Extent OF British Possessions.
Great Britain's possessions in the
West Indies and in the Bermudas
constitute, roughly, 1927 square
miles of territory inhabited by about
1,5S2,302 souls. France has about
10000 square miles and controls a
population OF something over 10000
Great Britain's island possessions
begin at Bermuda, which lies about
500 miles off the coast of Charles
ton. S. G. These islands are famed
principally for their onions and win
ter golf. Senator Reeds speech
Wednesday in the Senate described
them as being fortified, and he listed
the Bermudas as one Of Great Brit
aims fortified positions which lie too
close for comfort to the Atlantic
coast of the United States. In all
his statements concerning the position
of vantage he believes Great Britain
holds in the West Indies, Mr.. Reed
assured the Senate that no offense
was intended to Great Britain or to
France, which he characterized as
great and friendly nations"
yolstead Law Prosperity.
Off the coast of Florida, within easy
flying distance. lie the Bahamas, this
group extending southeast to a point
directly north and about fifty miles
off the coast of Haiti. Before prohi-
bition the Bahama Islands were, per-
haps, of less Importance than any OF
the other British possessions in the
West Indies. Since prohibition the
chief port of the Bahamas, Nassau,
has become the most prosperous spot
in the Indies. Liquor in large and
generous amount is imported from
Europe and mysteriously disappears.
Nassau has paid off it's public debt
and is now considering extensive har-
Dor and port improvements The
tiny islands which dot this part of
the sea are rapidly becoming pleas
ure resorts, the majority Of them
Boosting their own racetracks and
tourist hotels.
Jamaica, lying south OF the south
eastern part of Cuba, is nearer the
Panama canal than any American
possession. It is largest in area and
in population of all the British West
Indian possessions. Senator Reed
made the statement in his speech. but
corrected 1t upon the suggestion of
Chairman Wadsworth of the military
affairs committee, that Jamaica was
highly fortified. He contended. how
within a week. Perhaps, with no in
reference, Jamaica could be fortified
within short time, but it has been
pointed out that a United States ma
val base-Guantanamo, on the south
ern coast of Cuba-is closer to Jamai-
ca than Jamaica is to the Panama
canal, and that while It might take
weeks to fortify Jamaica, it has TAX
en- years to .fortify the Panama canal
time always adding to the thor
oughness of the job.
Owned by the French.
Other British islands are Trinidad.
Tobago and the group known as the
y"Leeward" and the "Windward is
lands" lying north in straight line