14 JANUARY 1944, Page 2

Colonial Co-operation The first Report of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission

is a most promising record of co-operation by representatives of this country and the United States. Here is a region in which British and American dependencies lie close together and the Americans have acquired naval bases is some of the British islands. Apart from the military problems arising in an area of great strategic importance it is decided to treat the area as one from an economic and social point of view ; and it was to deal with this side of the question that the Com- mission was appointed in March, 1942. It consisted of two sections, an American and a British, which have worked closely together on matters of common concern. First, there was set up a Research Council, with Netherlands members included, which got to work on technical questions. The Commission then proceeded to cope with the task of maintaining imports of food, encouraging local food pro- duction, and arranging a fleet of schooners for better distribution. It is examining long-term as well as short-term problems concerning the use of natural resources, the improvement of agriculture, the provision of houses, the prevention and treatment of disease, and the broadening of education. These and similar questions are being jointly examined and experience pooled, though the separate Adminis- trations are responsible for carrying out recommendations. In the work of the Commission it has been proved that with a definite job of work to do the British and American representatives have been able to collaborate as a team and produce results which may have far- reaching effects on the standard of living of a population of some four and a half million people. That this kind of co-operation is working well in a limited sphere is very encouraging to the advocates of a general system of Regional Colonial Councils.