CAN ANGLO-SAXONS COLONIZE THE TROPICS?
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOa."]
SIR,—The question put by Dr. Arthur in your issue of November 16th is of great importance. For the principal European nations have annexed large areas of tropical territory, and it is uncertain whether these territories can ever be colonized by Europeans. But the question cannot be solved by a newspaper correspondence, and should be made the subject of exhaustive and impartial inquiry. I served for ten years in Mauritius, a tropical colony, and I must acknowledge that such information as I obtained there does not justify me in giving a decided answer to Dr. Arthur's question. The French Creole population of Mauritius have a record of over a century of tropical life, and show no signs of degeneration. But they for the most part live at altitudes of over 900 feet. On the other hand, whilst Englishmen, or men of the Teutonic races, resident in Mauritius appear to be healthy, their wives and daughters become pale and show signs of anaemia.
My observations therefore would point to the conclusion that colonization of tropical areas is a question of race, altitude, occupation, and conditions of life. But whatever may be the expert opinion on that point, my experience of tropical life, and especially of life in the Pacific Islands, leads me to the same conclusion as that stated by Dr. Arthur in the concluding paragraph of his letter. Dr. Arthur thinks it would be better to people the tropical parts of Australia with Maltese than with men and women of the Teutonic races. I agree, and my agreement is not dependent on the main question raised in his letter. My reasons may be briefly stated as follows : Australia is fringed by islands containing both the Melanesian and the Polynesian races. These islands are being developed under tropical conditions, and a half-caste race is coming into existence. For although it is not yet certain whether white women can or cannot live in the tropics, it is certain that white women find the climate and the life exhausting, whilst for moral reasons, independent of considerations of hygiene, European children should not be left in contact with natives after they have learned to understand and speak the native languages.
Tropical areas which contain a native population must therefore be developed by bachelors, with the inevitable consequence of a half-caste population. This may be deplor- able, but it is unfortunately true. Now I personally am a supporter of the policy of a white Australia, and I am con- vinced that the settlement of a Maltese population in the tropical areas is less dangerous to that policy than the attempt to force a Teutonic race to live under tropical conditions whilst there is a young and increasing half-caste population within easy reach. It is absurd to suppose that this half-caste population can be permanently kept out of Australia if there is a demand for their services, and it is
the experience of tropical colonies that certain occupations are practically monopolized by the half-castes. But the settlement of the Northern Territory by Maltese would prevent the creation of any demand for the services of half-castes. In other words, their place would be occupied in advance. The whole question is, however, so important that it might fittingly be investigated by a Special Commission, which would naturally include a fair proportion of medical men.—I am,
Sir, &G., GRAHAM BOWER. Studwell Lodge, Droxford, Hants.
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