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3/17/1969 - Anguilla. Crisis in the Caribbean by Frank J. McDonald

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS C S Ca2 I Richard H No Lte ecutive Dlx ector Institute Cur Wo Affaizs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Nolte L night British paratroopers England Caribbean Antigua early morning Another British arines statione miles north Antigua British warships frizates lnerva Rhyl In reserve these forces ritish Arm statione4 British Hon4uras All force invade square rebel islan4 Anguill proclaLme4 Republic which month 4ecla epenence Great Britaiu British Commonwea FJM reaffirminz secession St Kitts Nevis FJM I Aatigu W I March NOT FOR PUBLICATION St Thomas Puerto Rsco St Martin St Croix Barbuda St F ustatius O Ants Nevis Montserrat Guadeloupe Caribbean Sea N lDominica artinique Luci munsms Barbados Vincent Palm Island Grenadine GFenad Above Members British delegation headed extreme Mr William Whitlook M Mr Nhitlock background Mr Desmond Kerr Assistant British Representative Associated States On extreme right Mr Stuart Roberts Representative H4G Associated States based So Lucia To Roberts remier John Compon Head Governmen St Lucia taken during recent discussions Mr ihitlock St Lucia Anguilla setSlement proposals Events leading deployment these troops shape4 largely Ronal ebster President Republic During month Webster become demagogic intransigent actions policies Following withdrawal British Senior Officis Tof Lee Webster worked extremist elements island advice Aerican busessmsn specu F Jack Ho mixes great itics commercial interests FJM As result Her ajestF Government alarmed conside gangster elements using Webster clique order island Other Caribbean heads Government alarmed pushing Britain Anguilla rebellion Hooever would brought I00 paratroopers Caribbean incre confrontation between Webster J William iSlock British Uniter Secretary Foreign Coaonwealth Affairs Whitlock heading delegation effort solve Anguilla problem visited Prettier radsh8 St Kitts headed Angailla Where forth Goverent proposals settlement Whit srive4 Aguilla airport before Wednesday March Along Under Secret delegation include4 Mr Stuart Robe British Representative Associate4 States Caribben Mr Tony Lee former Senior British Official AnguiAia severn other ondon based officia Disembarking small aircraft which transported Antigua delegation I Webster other members Aaguills Government roughly other Anguil turned welcome British Webster greete Whit introduce4 Anguillans saying Whitlock about island Angui See hself Anguillans FoA owing Webster speech Angui Go4 Save Queen wave4 British flags according Stuart Roberts delegation reception Wil prepare4 statement statement given which distributed Anguillans airport It greeted enthusiasm those Whit strange4 afternoon meeting civil service clock The gation retire4 Col Henry Howard miles airport lunch Aside brief excursion house Nm Roberts Mr Lee delegation remained Howard daring lunch Roberts Lee Atlin Harrigsn Editor The Beacon AnguiA weekly sheet voice could called moderate Following lunch delegation began depart oward residence intention touring island At severs groups armed Aguiilans appeared hills surrounding property barricade placed gates Demsring allowed British until P Webster returned A message people Anguilla Mr William Whitlock M P British Parliamentary Under Secretary Foreign Commonwealth Affairs The British Government following affairs Anguilla closely reason visit explain action which British Government wouldnowthink right interests people Anguilla Our ensure should administered acceptable The proposal which I authorised Her Majesty Government should establish Anguilla Commissioner appointed Her Majesty The Queen advice Rt Hon Michael Stewart Secretary State Foreign Commonwealth Affairs The Mr Tony Lee already understands problems aspirations It would intention Her Majesty Commissioner should direct people Anguilla remain island present difficult situation continues We realise years He would consult about appointment Advisory Committee assist capacity Her Majesty Commissioner In order enable Commissioner carry important British Government would steps endow necessary legal authority under West Indies Act The Supreme Court West Indies Associated States jurisdiction Anguilla there should Magistrate Anguilla The British Government would arrange appointment Magistrate would could trust We people Anguilla development taking place island benefit whole population The British Government would pians development projects Commissioner would consult fully about these The British Government would continue existing taxes provide money bridge between income taxation necessary expenditure We importance attach establishment Land Registry issue titles Her Majesty Commissioner responsibilities would cover matter You would prosecution political activities during twenty months It agreed prosecutions would brought I measures proposed Her Majesty Government commend themselves would enable Anguilla substantial progress future All would equal before would equal opportunities benefit progress There would peace certainty stability Anguilla which would those Anguilla other countries grounds confidence about future The British Government children looking future eontident tranquil prosperous Anguilla Shortly thereafter Webster arrived Under Secretary posals would acceptable proposals obvious trick return islan St Kitts itlock proteste Webster adsant finally delegat thirty leave Angilla Whitiock ebjccd poiate given freeom islanders himself actions Webster insult Crown Webster refuse iscuss positloo further prope Following message delegation Police Sergeant Thomas Rya arrive British taxis waiting airport proteste again aske4 Webster standing Adjoin strut Building overlooking Howad House Sergeant Ryan shouted Webster Whitlock wanted which Webster responded Whitlock wanted itlock furious alarmed efuseo Webster reply burst shots ifles The egation knowing bAoodshed could result realizing nightfall house could burned ecied leave They Howard taxis headed followed jeering csrloads Webster shouting holding rifles Valley Air Service plaKes available Interviewed Thursday Whit carefum outlined reasons going Anguiaa described proposa conente confrontation Webster I right there point sking happens I farther H M G considering situation consultation Governments Caribbean Angail I believe complete dominated gangster elements forgotten Now place during visit There Associated States which internal government For external affairs defence respon sible This operating ecided I should discussions tates iolved In going during V visit I aapressed their concern increasing activities Caribbean subversive elements outside In creasingly these elements various They pointed Anguilla rebellion point these might Angui As result these discussions I formulated certain proposals AnguizAa which T quite confident support Goveruents Caribbean They H N G There approval I should Anguillans One proposals shoul commissioner adjuster On sides there acceptance evidence strength feeling Government St Kitts neglected Aui This feeling there A wrongly Above 0fficial photo Mr William Whitlock M P The Under Secretary Foreign Com onwealth Affairs recently expelled Anguilla Courtesy British Information Service Trinidad So would period 8dmimistration commissioner while whole future Angui themse I should island exeicise persuasion proposals explain there island We known nchie carbines rifles It obvious there D andfu gangster acters Angui subjection those people airport demonstrated favour proposais people friendmy pretty rough since Was Webster comand think these ements A It iression these exements there played Websters tislly himse f8ter people eteiy control these feezs frightened Are absomutemy tised wemcorning crowd friend speec How mention St Kitts2 cmear remationship St Kitts2 A What I quite speech administered uncer terms Wes Indies Act whica Associated Sta somet maybe severs years would anistere4 Her lajesty Cossioner would islanc period consultedaboutthefurze Nowthoseproposalsqerereceived asIsaidwithen thusiasm start various points speech I thusiasm again again showing enthusia support proposals There apping cheering shouting severalts insisted singing God Save Queen And I trying quiet order I I eventually there I going roun8 isAand about proposals inftr detail They copies leaflet handed round chance before aport They still41y euthusia about whole Q How would St Kitts power proposals ccepted A The St Kitts dovei nment would Anguilla sISaid I concurrance GOvernments proposals I forward recognised St Kitt Government there strength Anguil about St Kitts rightly wrongly befor Zhey became AssoCiated State It there St Kitts Nevis AnguiA administered colony Anguilla admidstrstive centre St Kitts neglected feeling there years Now there recognition areathatwhilethatfeeling maybewrongit isthere feelingmustbetaken account future island Left Anguillan John hodge West Edo A member riginal Island Council after secession Below Two Anguilla watchers discussing recent event Anguilla Karl T Hudson Phillips M P Trinidad writer Mr Hudson Phillips serve advisor Mr Webster O ctober H M G London The photo courtesy Trinidad Guardia flects gloom awaited imminent invasion Ansuillao Q Wou Webster Coissioner A The Commissioner would administer island consent Anguillans would course appoint advisory comittee process towards period their elections elect their ouncil Q In proposal What woul4 happen Webster A What proposals happened twenty months would forgotten oomplete amnesty would questioned about afthing happene4 point Q How future What think Government about A I already qestion I intend answer beyond saying H M G considering matter discuss Governments Caribbean until reach decision beyond saying interest Anguiiians They forgotten I propose further Over meken4 March reaction Caribbean states strongly against Webster actions In Georgetown Guyan2 Su S ap_hi e4itorial echoe4 Whitlock conviction there foreign mobse 6ontrol Anguilla called H M G B villains alan4 The writer E4itor Carl BiaCkma poinZe woui4 worA4 underwor Caribbean grabs B ackman contlnme4 sayingthatBritain ndee4face4 adiAemm asncouAdbeaccuse4 ofpickingon ittie Anguiila stoppe4 Inn Smith getting mur4er Rhodesia Admitting there unfortunate parallel between BAackman contene4 wrongs right In Trinia4 Guardian itoria reactions A Mockery Independence eWhat started comedy years assuming ominous proportions dangerous farce Six thousand Anguillans unilateral declaration independence expelled British Minister prepared world While obnoxious element present miniature parody Rhodesia itdoesseemtocontainthemucmore elementofbackingbyquestion nterests Caribbean Governments cannot afford implications Yt would comfOrtable claim British Governments responsi iility Wstminlster solution But CarAbean G0vernts there ediate question security within region Pr0babl effects organ crime rings gambAing syn6icates rating Oa island coal6 territories Above Where Yarines Road Anguilla Anguilla central island The Marines transported frigates Rhyl Minerva armed UnSo Minerva transport IO0 British paratroopers Army elite FJM O The gunboat giplomacy Aui heavily armed patro boats there ample evidence vested interests would prepared fight protect their private estate I Brsdshsw aitte helplessness situation But joint mpprosch British Caribbean Governments should bring situation In St Lucia Premie Jolln Compton mafia Cazibbean Headlines region Whitiock mafia gangster clear troops invasion wille justified these grounds On Aguil itself Webster Co Zaken further steps quiet opposition island On Thursday At Harrigan press which The Beacon printed siezed returned damaged condition thellyis silenced All British citizens living island deported weeken Webster Britain excuse invade pretext protecting British subjects civii servants fired island their sccor ranager Bank America asked leave Conmenting these actions webster defended himself accuse4 Whitlock lying After Whit behsviour faase reports expect sheathing British In rejecting Whit allegation gangsters control island Webster contened charges absurd Ne elected President island month uncontested elections Webster unoppOSed Px esident apiointed associate Campbeil Fleming Vice President Meanwhile Jere Gumbs Anguilisn American citizen owner functioning hotel island Unite Nations lobbying AnguiAls attempt forestall possible British invasion Gumbs Webster strong force island himse As illustrated FJ actual condition island amstic Whit mafia dominated Government while nevertheless serious It individuals Jack Ho Rona Webster foothold island probably their In Webster I certain there notion using these people The situation which groups convinced their goals achieved working other Webster doesn Commissioner qistrating island because power would greatly curtailed power heady stuff On other Ho lcomb named associates Holcomb refuses revea sources funding afraid British return because would obvious Anguil within The charge Ho GulLs other forthright individua working hating President Webster Holcomb former Flori4a policeman training whatsoevei admitted Angui Webster order Conse quently Holcomb position write clear contracts requiring legal cosasei In addition there indication proposa Minister Whit proposed short complete independe would rejected result Holcomb advice For example fonal statent printe U S Virgin Island handed British delegation before leave This statement prepared before Webster British proposa demanded complete independence opinion British officials written American probab Ho Jere Gumbs underestimated power island The spokesman Anguilla United Nations appointed clsis Whitlock ieturn Eng false Gumbs history putting point objectives acloss complete truth complete often tends confuse interests thosof Gumbs doubt workn cAosely Holcomb There other Ame icans island reason return British Lewis Haskins Boston patriot American Anguiilan little 4ifference arsenal islan He provided island Defence Force homemade cannon source other weapons island It rightly assumed sskins roun4s while Eritish island Another merican rebel Minister Freeman Goo4ge Kentucky Baptist preacher uoo6e always front emonstl atlon These other 4omin Anguii movement The members civil service others Government while oppose4 return St Kitts moderate their generally honest quiet working people The orates heade4 Be E4itor At Harrigan afrai actually organize themselves against Zhe Webster Ho Gumbs group itting islano harmin cause secession Bradshaw Govermaent St Kitts Angui therefore 4ifficult problem those sapstbize 4esire eterzine future St Kitts Great Britain Angula spake great sympathy Caribbean Angui watcers their movement soun4 Since Webster 4ominated isAan4 island progress recent evelopments Anguila in4epen4ence aborte4 sense Anguilla oblem classic internstion itics international Im fragmentation regiona cooperation qestions alien domination exploitation states military intervention facet Anguilla FDritish Marines beaches Of Auilla sonde these problems solve4 vertheless prou4 a4venture paint indepen4eat people ifferent 4ecisions woul4 provi4ed worl4 successful instance nation building Received New York March