Evening star., 1949-03-27

q
The OAS will then transmit these
copies to member states for their
information and study. But the
Havana group has already en-
tered into long -winded debates
and even recriminations about
who has the right to occupy and
govern what.
Puerto Rico Next
Although nothing in the resolu-
ton or agenda suggests any design
to take up officially the question
OF our occupation of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands, spokesmen
at Havana make 1t abundantly
clear that this will come later.
One Latin diplomat conf1des that
demand for the freedom Of Puerto
Rico is merely for the purpose Of
forcing Uncle Sam into pressuring
the Europeans to make conces-
sions here and there, an old
strategy of Latin American diplo-
mats and politicians.
But this wholly outside cam
paign to get Europeans 0lt of the
Western Hemisphere is matched
by the movement for independ-
ence and self-government within
some of the colonies and posses
sions themselves, or at least ths
opposition to what some of theil
leaders call injustice and oppres.
sion of the mother countries.
Back in the 1930s the most popu-
lous of the British islands-Bar-
bados, Trinidad. Jamaica and
others-were torn with riots.
Scores of people we're killed and
hundreds wounded. In many in
stances, British marines and naval
forces had to be sent in to put
down the disturbances.
Today there are ominous rum
blings of unrest in every single
one of the important British pos
sessions. Only a few months ago,
violent riots against absentee
owners Of the sugar plantations
swept British Guiana. The great
masses of Negroes, who make up
the bulk of the population OF all
the European colonies in >the
Caribbean, are organized and led
by clever men of their own race,
many of whom have been trained
in the schools and universities of
the mother lands.
Last September the people of
Dutch Guiana. Hollands fabu-
lously rich colony on the South
American mainland, loudly de-
manded self-government now,
and full independence as soon as
we are sure of economic stability"
In Paramaribo leaders of the
declared openly that
Dutch occupation Of the $4,000
square miles of territory with its
nearly 100000 inhabitants had
been "a story of misrule, exploita-
ton, misery. disease, infection,
suffering and death"
In fact, the cry for independ-
ence in Dutch Guiana has been
so strong that the Netherlands
has already been
to announce a plan for
elf-rule in its South American
territory. The agreement, under
which the colony is to have au-
tonomy under the Dutch crown.
was drawn up by representatives
Of the colony and the home gov
ernment early in March. The
only thing remaining is for the
Dutch Parliament to okay it,
which now seems a foregone con-
clusion. According to latest news
reports: Under the plan worked
out. power is to be placed in the
hands of a crown representative
and a cabinet responsible to the
local legislative council. elected by
the people. 1t would abolish The
Hague's right to make laws for
the territory"
Live There
We are accustomed to look upon
most Of these European posses
sions, the greater number Of which
form a ring Of emerald stepping
stones around the eastern rim OF
the eCaribbean Sea, in terms OF
Bermuda and the Bahamas, as
mere tourist Fairgrounds. But
the tourist islands are among the
least important Of all Of them.
The American possessions Of Brit
ain, France and Holland are not
only vast In area. but they are in
habited by more than four and
one-haH million people. They
possess tremendous quantities OF
industrial raw materials,
some Of which are already highly
developed.
In the Caribbean alone, Britain
rules over more than 1000 islands
and also the mainland territories
Of British Honduras and British
Guiana, all with a population OF
approximately three million peo-
Die. In addition, there are Ber-
nuda, the Bahamas, the disputed