, 1923-01-22
The British and French Awards

of British and French acquisitions
~ of former German territory in Africa is time
" in view of the fact that debt and reparations
questions are tho only matters accuping Internal
ional attention Mt the present time. 1t must be re
membered that this particular territory is an EN-
pire in itself, embracing $4,000 square miles.
EQUAL in area to all of the United States east OF
the Mississippi river with an extra state of New
York thrown in. Attention is especially directed to
the influence of those immense accretions of wealth
on the ability of Great Britain and France to Ii
quidate their debts to the United States.
The former German territory of Southwest
Africa was turned over entirely to Great Britain
under the mandate provisions of the Versailles
treaty. The country has an area of 332,450 square
miles with 800 miles of Atlantic coast line. In
1921 the colony had a white population of 1927,
with 2OS,616 natives. A complete report on South,
west Africa has been included in "a Review of the
Trade, Industries and Productions of British
South Africa" published in London in July, l922.
From that report it appears that in 1921 the i'm
ports of Southwest Africa toalled $~5,570,O00, and
the exports reached $7y300,0O0. The imports were
mostly cotton goods, foodstuffs, and iron and steel
manufactures, while the exports were cattle, cop
per, diamonds, and miscellaneous ores and min
erals.
The lack of water has interferred with the de.
velopment of agriculture and mining, but appar-
emily the country is no worse off in that respect
than our own irrigated west, known q few years
ago as the Great American Desert" In spite of
the water deficiency, the carrying capacity of the
country is placed at 100000 horses, 100000 cattle,
100000 goats, and 1%5,O0O,OOO sheep, and 1t is Off
cially stated that 100000 square miles are avail
able for cattle and sheep breeding. Various dis
eases hinder animal culture, but they are rapidly
yielding to modern treatment.
"This country has never been properly prospect
ed" says the British report. "The country needs
opening up The absence of coal is a great hand
leap TO development, but, in spite of the inadequate
prospecting, some coal has already been found,
and 1t is thought that other deposits may be dis.
covered son the large areas of level grass country
towards the Kalahari." Despite the lack of water
and fuel, 72,643 tons Of copper ore were produced
in 1921, together with a quantity of copper matte,
vanadium, tin, lead, and marble. Gold and zinc
have been discovered as well as large quantities
of iron. From 1909 to 1921 diamonds were produced
I'd the value of about $72J0OO,000, and the diamond
mines are now under production. Tho marble is
described as of "varied colors and good quality and
exists in large bulk"
The total railway mileage is 1,417, about half
of il narrow-gunge, and there are 2,S6S miles of telc-
graph lines. The lack of suitable communication
is hindering the development of the country, but
with adequate railroads, motor roads, and tele.
graphs capital will be encouraged to seek invest
ment there. It is estimated by the British inyes.
tigator that the white population could be increas.
ed ten.fold.
There are three great obstacles at present to
of coal; scarcity of water, and lack of population.
The indications are that they will all be overcome
eventually and the fertility of the soil and the
wealth that lies underground made TO bring in n
wealth that many equally unpromising sections Of
the United States have been forced to yield.
Southwest Africa is bound to have n great in,
fluence on the future income Of the British treas
ury, and must take n prominent place in all discus
sions of the ability of Great Britain to meet her
debt to the United States within the twenty. five
year limit fixed by congress.