Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1932. COLONIES FOR SALE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 January 1932, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1932. COLONIES FOR SALE.

Deals in real estate are a common occurrence, but a few days ago a cablegram reported - a projected transaction of an unsual sort. For some time negotiations have been i£ progress between Canada and Newfoundland for the purchase by the former of territory in Labrador belonging to the latter. Eventually the negotiations crystallised into an official offer of the area in question for the price of 100,000,000 dollars. However, Ottawa decided not to proceed with the matter at present on account of the depression. The British flag waves over several colonies in Africa and the Pacific by virtue of bargains in which native chiefs, for ample consideration, transferred their realms to Britain. It must not be thought, however, that Britain took advantage of the innocence of these unsophisticated potentates. In 1858, for instance, Thakombau offered the sovereignty of Fiji to Britain. It was not accepted until 1874. However, the supreme example of the enterprising “realtor” is America, who, like the shrewd speculator in a smaller way, foresees the possibilities of an undeveloped area, buys cheaply and reaps a rich return for her acumen. In 1803 she paid Napoleon 12,000,000 dollars for “Louisiana,” then a tract far larger than the modern State" of that name. In 1848, after the war with Mexico, she annexed the greater part of California and supplemented her gains by purchase. Later in the same year, by a happy coincidence, came the discovery of gold. In 1867 America bought Alaska from Russia for 7,200,000 dollars, a wonderful investment, in view of the Yukon, and the more profitable because a zone to which Canada appeared to have the better title was awarded to America on arbitration. ,In 1916 America bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark for 25,000,000 dollars. This, however, was in pursuance of a different policy. It was to consolidate her sphere of influence in the Caribbean,, where, through a policj 7 of economic and financial penetration, she is in practical control of all the island republics and several of the J

mainland States. A school of opinion in America advocates the purchase of the British West Indies. They are not for sale.