342 
in the one pnt and for their support or emigration in the other 
case. The circumstances of Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis are 
analogous on à gem scale. 
13. The special danger which appears in the outlook in the 
Colonies thus dependent on sugar lies in uw M that this industry 
employs far more labour to the acre than any possi a wibentute, 
and that no substitute is immediately steilabie ; that Ys revenue 
depends directly on the industry, and that the administrations 
are, therefore, liable to be Tilátiblalts crippled just when there is 
the greatest strain upon them, and that any general failure of 
i ot 
immediate rioting, at least a very dangerous and unstable 
situation, in which more efficient police arrangements than exist 
in the majority oí of the ceci and possibly the presence of troops 
or ships of war may be necessary to maintain order. 
d paui wlantetton- turbines involving a large number 
of casualties has been reported from British Guiana by last 
mail. 
15. It must also be borne in mind that the Colonial banking 
establishments in the West Indies are considerably involved in 
the sugar industry, and that a collapse o of that aiy would be 
likely to bring about a financial crisis, the gravity of “which and 
? 
the Sugar Bounties Convention was hot Ded. It has now, in 
view of further developments, become a question whether the 
continued enjoyment of this advantage does not involve the ruin 
of the British sugar-producing Colonies, and, if so, what this 
prospect further implies, both as regards the social future of such 
. Oolonies and in claims for Imperial expenditure which it will 
not be possible to resis 
. The position of affairs being ^x indicated, Mr. Chamberlain 
not prepared, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, to accept 
the responsi ibilility of allowing mikaa to take their course and to 
acquiesce in the policy of non-intervention hitherto pursued in 
West "m toner as early as can be arranged, so as to investigate in 
es oce ——— ie their portion has improved or 
n the last ten years, and the causes involved ; 
- are vein the state and. imas of the sugar industry, 
3 
