Evening star., 1946-08-04
u. ). Military Forces
In West Indies Gain
Increased Popularity
By Ernie Hill
Foreign Correspondent Of The S.ar
ond the Chicauo Dolly NeMx


PORT OF SPAIN. Trinidad. Aug.
3.-Permanent United States mill
tary garrisons in the Caribbean
area are gradually winning the re-
spect and friendship of British CO.
lonial populations.
1t has been difficult for many
Britishers to realize that United
States Army and Navy contingents
have come to stay on the islands
of Trinidad, st. Lucia, Antigua and
Jamaica and to British Guiana in
South America.
But sporadic flareups of two ana
three years ago have subsidized.
Americas first large-scale expert
ment in keeping troops and bases
on foreign soil for hemisphere de-
fense purposes is producing fewer
headaches than in the days when
incidents plagued the 1O0-ship con-
voys that piled out of here to North
Africa. Wartime hysteria Is over,
military personnel are calmer and
many complaints are forgotten.
Services Stimulate Trade.
In general, the overwhelmingly
large native populations have found
that the United States Army and
Navy are not only doing good job
of keeping everybody in line, but
are a terrific stimulus to business.
Old British families who resent
the intrusion of the American
armed forces still complain about
their boosting labor wages and TAX
ing over choice pieces of land for
bases.
But most of their wrath is CEN
tered against the British govern
ment which has failed to pay them
for the land as required under the
contract.
The United States went into the
permanent Caribbean defense busi-
ness six years ago in September. At
that time. President Roosevelt
traded Britain so over-age destroyers
for 99-year leases on eight pieces of
British soil-five in this area, plus
others in Newfoundland, Bermuda
and the Bahamas.
The destroyers-if they ever were
important - have been forgotten
during the worlds most destructive
war.
The historical significance of the
leasing of the bases, however, is
only now being fully realized.
BY this agreement the United
States took on the Job of defending
not only British colonies but the
hemisphere as well.
For the first time since 1923 the
United States is now charged with
enforcement of the Monroe Doc
trine The British Navy has been
It's chief support for more than
100 years.
The expansion of United States
military influence has come at a
time when Britain Is giving colo
malls great voice in their govern
ment.
And so as Britain appears to be
relaxing its control, the United
States is stepping in with powerful
military forces to preserve the in
eCSiit vi SoiOIlidl ilOlOlllSS.
Work Closely with Allies.
Army and Navy officials are max
ing concerted effort to work
closely with both British and colo
nial officials. They realize, that as
renters, they must keep peace with
their landlords.
The garrisons on all of the
islands have been reduced ma
terially since the end of the war
Here in Trinidad, the military has
been trimmed from a high of about
$4,000 to 5000. Civilian workers
have been cut from 10000 to 5000
At that, the United States Army
and Navy are still Trinidad's largest
single employer, the payroll making
an important contribution to its
total income.