Evening star., 1933-01-01

Square Popu-
miles, lation
The Bermudas. $500. 10 3O.8I4
The Bahamas. ..., 1896 60 367
Jamaica ........... 4,450 974,742
Leeward Islands. =. IT'S 124,5l8
Wndward Islands. 516 I83,557
5aIpauoS .......... l66 168299
trinidad and Topago l,974 397,lOO
France exercises sovereignty over
martinique (385 square miles, 235 900
nhabitants) and Guadeloupe (582
square miles, about 100000 inhabitants)
and several smaller isles.
Into the same category of European
possessions may be placed the colony of
5nCsn- Honduras (8,598 square miles,
oV,206 lnhabitantS) or Belize, as the
Central Americans call it, adjoining
Guatemala on the east. That includes
practically all of the European holdings
IN the region of the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean Sea, except a few small
Islands held by Holland which is not
ndebted to the Government of the
United States.
The present ownership of those colo
nies dates back more than $50 years, to
the days when France and England had
projects OF empire involving Louisiana,
Mexico and Central America, when
Great Britain was planning to control
the Nicaraguan inter-oceanic route,
and France intended to build the Pam
anna Canal. It will have been observed
that the aggregate area of the islands
Is relatively small. Those held by the
British are only equal in extent to a
square OF Ill miles by Ill miles, or ap-
proximately the size of the State of
Maryland. The area of the French
holdings Is about that of small county.
Some of these colonies have much of
the time been economic burdens upon
the public treasures of Great Britain
and France. But they were valued as
naval and military bases from which to
dominate the mainland.
Declares Need Gone.
e'During the last century and q half
conditions have changed. The United
States has come into existence. 1t
purchased Louisiana from France. The
Monroe Doctrine was promulgated
against the further acquisition of terri
tory in America by European govern
ments. The United States, with the
acquiescence of England and of French
interests, for which recompense was
given, built and now owns the Panama
Canal and has an exclusive option on
the Nicaraglan waterway. In conse-
Quence of these developments, the Eu-
ropean powers no longer have need of
the Caribbean fortification sites for
purposes Of defense. Their lack of need
in that respect may be compared to
that of America in reference to islands
in the Channel between England and
France or In the Mediterranean. 1t
may be noted that the United States
neither has nor seeks any territory in
Europe.
ITO say that those possessions in the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
constitute potentially battery of guns
pointed at the heart of the American
continent does not imply that France
or Great Britain will ever make war
upon the United States or on any OF
the other American countries in that
region. However, it is conceivable that
one day some country or other may
attack America. 1t is quite possible
that then Great Britain and France
may find that their interests or necessi-
ties impose neutrality upon them, while
those possessions, or scme of them,
will perhaps be needed as additional
bases for Americas defense. The Sc
curity of the American continent re-
quires that those potential military and
naval bases in American waters be un-
der American control.
History records numerous cases OF
the transfer of colonies, prompted by
good will or policy Of state. There
were, for instance, the conveyance OF
Louisiana by France to the United
States in 1903 and the transfer OF
Helgoland in 1890 by Great Britain to
Germany The Helgoland transfer was
part and parcel of three-cornered
deal whereby the British acquired
supremacy in Zanzibar from the French
and the Germans and the British
waived all claims to the island OF
Madagascar in favor of France.
U. S. Action Left for Later.
Whether upon the REIMBURSEMENT
of those colonies the United States will
wish to extend its own sovereignty
over all or any Of them is question to
be considered when the occasion arises.
It is possible that the Congress may
prefer to accept only such of them as
are best suited for the defense OF the
continent, leaving the others to form
independent governments or to join
existing republics, although perhaps
the people of most of the lands under
consideration would, for economic rea-
sons and other causes, prefer to become
part of the United States.
During the past century several
American statesmen have envisaged the
desirability Of Europes relinquishing
the possessions under consideration.
AS recently as July 8, 1882, Senator
Gore of Oklahoma presented resolu-
tion which proposes that the Secretary
OF State ascertain whether any of the
European powers indebted to the
United States would prefer to transfer
to the United States, in lieu of cash
payments, colonial possessions received
by such European governments from
Germany as a result of the war, or
whether they would prefer TO assign
to the United States islands they hold
in American waters. AS the erstwhile
German colonies consist entirely Of
holdings in the regions of Africa, Asia
and Australia, there might eventually
be voiced considerable opposition in the
United States to their acquisition by
the United States. Furthermore, 1t
may not be quite opportune to press
any part of that resolution. Possibly
the fact that Mr.. Gore has not yet
urged its adoption indicates that the
Senator himself believes that Great
Britain and France may prefer to
initiate the idea of such cessions, rather
than having America suggest them. AT
any rate, such an offer on the part oi
the British and the French would un-
doubtedly be deemed pleasing act BY
American taxpayers to whose shoulder,
our European debtors would shift a par
OF their obligations to the United Statel
Treasury"
-. =. tcopyrisht, 1e3s.l,