STRATEGIC ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 8

STRATEGIC ISLANDS

U.S. Acquirement Debated WASHINGTON, April 2S. In a debate broadcast to the nation on the resolutions which are to come before Congress empowering the Unitcyl States to acquire- British, French and Dutch islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean the affirmative side was? taken by Senators R. R. Reynolds (Democrat) and E. Lundeen (Farmer-Labour) and the negative side by Senators L. B. Schwei•lenbach (Democrat) and E. Thomas (Democrat). Senator Lundeen asserted that the possession by foreign countries of American land was a violation of the Monroe Doctrine. Senator Schwellenbach favoured the acquisition of strategic islands by honourable negotiation and disagreed with a proposal by Senator Lundeen to use force if necessary. “For us to take advantage of the temporary occupation in war elsewhere by Britain and France,” he declared, “would lie sneaking and cause people everywhere to loathe and despise us.” Senator Reynolds said that Costa Rica, Cocos Island, Ecuador cruel the Galapagos Islands also must be acquired to insure adequate defence of United States interests. Senator Thomas insisted that unilateral action would destroy the goodneighbour policy and impair the faith of the smaller Latin American countries in the United States. “If the doctrine of non-exploitation and non-interference is good for one,” he said, “it is good for all.”