The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-18
Plan
West Indies
CaiillsFavor
Vice President Coolidge and
Leaders Support Proposal
to Accept islands in Part
Payment of War Debt.
Check to Rum Traffic

Washington. Jan. 17.-Strong sen
timent has developed i'll both houses
OF congress in favor of the proposal
of acquisition Of the British and
French West Indies in part payment
Of the War debt. owed the United
sta - by Great Britain and France.
Vice President Coolidge and many
leaders who favor acquisition of the
islands in the interest of strengthen
ing the natural defenses OF conti-
mental United States and the Panama
ohnal have been joined by the "drys"
who hold that with the West Indies
under American control the rum run.
ming could be suppressed.
The reason for our interest in these
possessions" said Wee President
Coolidge. lis increased by our interest
in the Panama canal. They are natu-
hal means to its approach. as well as
natural barriers for its defense.
Should Consult People
at will be necessary To consult ex-
perts in order to make determine
tion of the financial value which
would accrue from these possible an
neXations. That is only one element
to consider, but a most important ele-
ment. 1t would be highly desirable,
if not absolutely necessary, to secure
some expression Of opinion from the
people most interested. who are the
people resident in these locations
Senator Moses, republican, New
HAMPSHIRE a member of the foreign
relations committee, declared in favor
of the proposition. that it would
round out American control of the
western hemisphere.
Seator McKiley, republican Illinois,
who has Travelled extensively in the
West Indies. is opposed to the pur-
chase.
THE people down there are incap-
able Of self government, and / do not
believe we should add to our burdens
in that tiirectiop,' said Senator Nc
Kinley. II am not impressed with
the argument that the islands are
necessary to our national security be-
cause we already hold the key posi-
tons to the West Indies"
Source of Liquor.
Much of the liquor that is being
smuggled into the United States
comes from the Bahama islands. Be-
cause of their proximity to the Flor
ida coast. these islands are used As
a base of operations by rum runners
doing business with thirsty citizens OF
continental United States.
Senator Willis, republican, Ohio,
one of the authors of the Campbell
Willis anti-beer bill, and Senator Ster-
ling. republican, South Dakota, COM
monty regarded as the leader of the
more radical "drys' in the senate. de-
clared themselves strongly in favor
of acquiring the West Indian islands.
81 am most heartily in favor of ac-
tion looking to the acquisition OF the
islands," said Mr.. Willis. ut would
be great aid to the enforcement or
prohibition in the United States and
would shut off one of the biggest
sources of bootleg liquor. | favor the
acquisition of the islands for other
reasons also but it would be boon
to prohibition enforcement
Sheppard Favors Plan.
Senator Sheppard, democrat, Tex
as. author of the 18th amendment,
expressed himself in favor of the
proposal. although he though pro
hibition enforcement would succeed
without it. Representative Nolstead,
republican, Minnesota, author of the
Nolstead enforcement act, said he did
not think the proposal would ever go
through and therefore saw no reason
for discussing it.
Prohibition leaders, it is under
stood, have already been making some
quiet informal inquiries to ascertain
the attitude of the British govern
ment on the question. They were told
by one high British official compe-
tent to speak for his government, that
Britain was not in the real estate
business but that in case any deal
was entered into it would be necessary
to provide "a charter of freedom for
the British subjects involved in the
transfer.