15 MARCH 1924, Page 10

Bearing a share of the "white man's burden" is not

an altogether popular task in these enlightened days of self-determination, as the people of the United- States are finding out. Just as British rule in India and else- where comes in for criticism, so does the administration of the United States in the Philippines and in Porto Rico. The continuous political turmoil in this West Indian island is said to be due to the ambiguity of the present situation, for Porto Rico is neither a colony, nor a territory, nor a State. Home Rule sentiment is very strong. According to the Literary Digest, of the two chief political parties in the island, the Unionist and the Republican, the former is advocating complete independence, while the latter is urging full membership in the Union of the United States.