Evening star., 1940-06-23
Europe's New World Colonies
Raise Vital Defense Questions
Fear of Aerial Thrust Against Panama Canal Felt
fNazis Occupy One or More Islands
in Caribbean Area
By Oliver Mckee.

posed by some members of Congress,
their acquisition would impose new re-
sponsibilities on the Federal Government.
In 1917, the United States bought the
Virgin Islands from Denmark for S25,-
900 900. If our experience in the Virgin
Islands is an accurate guide, there would
be little, If any, material gain for the
United States In taking over British or
French colonies in the West Indies. Their
acquisition by the United States or other
American nations, now that the totali-
tarians are in the saddle in Europe, would
make easier, however, the problem of
hemisphere defense.
Guianas Have Strategic Value.
On the mainland of South America,
the only European colonies are British,
French and Dutch Guiana. Because of
their location on the Atlantic Ocean, in
the northeastern part of the continent,
near Brazil, the Guianas have a poten-
tial strategic value. The area of British
Guiana, about 10000 square miles ex-
ceeds that of England, Wales and Scot
land combined. The population is small,
only 305000, including 300 North Euro
peans, and $500 Portuguese. The min
eral and other resources of British
Guiana have never been fully explored
and for the most part are still undeyel-
oped. The chief mineral products are
gold, diamonds and bauxite from which
aluminium is made. With Dutch Guiana
this British colony is chief source of
supply for the United States. Bauxite
is listed as strategic material, essen
tial to national defense and American
industry. Sugar is British Guiana's chief
crop.
French Guiana is much smaller, about
80 900 square miles. OF its population
of 47500, several thousands are de-
portees from France. To Americans
French Guiana is best known for its
Devils Island Prison. The colony has
immense forests of rich timber. Because
OF the lack of roads, they have been lit
tie developed. Gold is the most impor-
tant mineral resource. The gold mines
are worked principally by convicts.
Netherlands Guiana, or Surinam, lies
between French and British Guiana.
Its area is about $4,000 square miles and
its population is estimated at 10000.
In addition to Surinam, the flag of
Holland flies over six small islands IN
the West Indies. The three most i'm
portant, Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire,
lie close to the coast of Venezuela, near
the outlet of the Gulf of Maracaibo,
The other three islands, st. Eustatius,
st. Martin (the northern part of which
is French, and Saba, are located about
500 miles northeast of Curacao, near tine
Virgin Islands. These last three have
little commercial Importance.
Outlet for U. S. Exports.
The Netherlands West Indies have an
estimated population of 77,0O0. The
economic life of the entire group depends
largely on the refining of Venezuelan
crude oil at Curacao and Aruba. Nc
petroleum is produced in the islands
The Netherlands West Indies provide an
important outlet for United States ex-
ports, and good deal of American CAPT.
tai has been invested in the islands.
In addition to French Guiana, New
World possessions of France include st.
Pierre and Miquelon, two groups of
rocky barren islands of the coast of
Newfoundland, and Guadeloupe and
Martinique in the West Indies.
In her West Indian possessions, Britain
has colonial empire of no mean size.
Extending from the Bahamas off the
coast of Florida to Trinidad, few miles
from Venezuela, these islands form an
outpost line along the Atlantic entrances
to the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica, the most
important Of the group, lies south of
Cuba. Most of the trade of the British
West Indies is with the United States
and Great Britain. Principal agricultural
products include sugar. coffee, bananas,
vegetables and cotton. The tourist trade
Is an important element in the economy
Of many of the islands.
Should we buy Greenland" The Na1
victories in Europe, won largely through
superior air power, have raised this ques-
ton. Greenland is not great distance
from Iceland. According to reports re-
Gently published, the Nazis are planning
to seize Iceland and use it as a base for
an aerial blitzkrieg against Britain. The
distance from st. Johns, Newfoundland,
to Godthaab, Greenland, is approxi-
mately 1900 miles. If military aviation
continues its present swift development,
Montreal, Boston and New York may
soon lie within bombing range of air
planes based on Greenland.