Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
British Naval Bases in West Indies
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Rumors that Great Britain would
dismantle her naval bases at Bermuda
and Jamaica are reported to have a
good deal more back Of them than the
existing trend of talk about naval dis
armament. Indirect adviceS from Eng
land are to the effect that there is
much sentiment there in favor of SELL
ing these West Indian islands to the
United States.
The friendliness which the British
people have for the United States would
dictate such a course in spite of the
sentiment which makes these British
possessions dear to Englishmen. Shake
speare referred to the far Bermoothes"
and Sir Francis DraHe cruised in West
Indian waters. And there are many
other reasons why the British cherish
these picturesque Islands.
AS locations for naval bases they are
regarded by experts as unimportant
unless Great Britain contemplates war
upon the United States, which there is
no reason to suppose she does.
However, they would be valuable naval
bases for the United States in view OF
the Monroe Doctrine. The United States
now Is engaged upon a survey OF the
Nicaraguan Canal route. 1t already
owns the Panama Canal and, in the
event the Nicaraguan Canal is built, will
have additional responsibilities in the
Caribbean. Under the Monroe Doctrine
the United States has the responsibility
Of policing the Western Hemisphere
and to this end must keep the canals
and the approaches to them open.
Already the Danish West Indies have
been purchased for $25 900 900, and they
do not complete West Indian control by
any means. Great Britain owns Ber-
muda, the Bahamas and Jamaica and
France the French West indies.
Attitude Of Islanders.
that the discussion in connection with
the naval bases has provoked comment
from the people of the islands. espe
cially Jamaica. This is generally re-
garded as the gem of the group. 1t is
phenomenally rich in agricultural re-
sources and Is growing in Importance as
Winter resort. Kingston and Spanish
Town are cities of great antiquity and
charm and the interior presents as lux
uriant flora as there is to be found In
the world
British Parliament proposes sale of one
or more Of the British West Indies to
the United States, and this Is sure to
provoke quite q storm. To be sure, II
England sold any of her islands in these
waters she would be likely to sell all, as
it would mark the giving up of a West
Indian policy. One of the strongest
arguments which the military and
naval as well as other British officials
advance is that this would almost GER
tainly have to be followed by a re-
linquishment of the whole Caribbean
policy of Great Britain. Not far dis
tant is British Honduras with Trinidad
and British Guiana to the southeast
ward. But. in addition to these out
right possessions, Englishmen have
large financial investments in Central
and South American republics. There
fore England has what nations re-
gard as logical justification for naval
bases and coaling stations on this side
of the Atlantic Ocean. Her policy has
been uniformly pacific due in part, no
doubt, to the fact that the American
Monroe Doctrine has frowned on any
European colonization or intervention
in the Western Hemisphere. Neverthe-
less, there is strong support for the con-
tinued maintenance of these outpostS
in the Western World.
Another side to the question relates
to the attitude of the people of Jamaica
themselves. The matter of cesSion of
the islands to the United States is one
which has long been a topic Of debate
among the islanders. While 1t has been