The brief campaign was hardly ever in doubt; Bradshaw was rough and ready and PAM was neither. Bradshaw threatened to fire Civil Servants who campaigned or voted for PAM, and he weeded known PAM supporters out of the voters' lists by every pretext he could find, including disqualification for misspelling of names on the list. As to the disgruntled unemployed back from the U.S. Virgin Islands, they discovered that their temporary residence off St. Kitts had made them ineligible to vote. The Labour Party romped to a victory.
Now Colonel Bradshaw came forth in yet another uniform. The man who once listed his hobby in the Caribbean Who's Who as "sartorial elegance" made his victory speech in faded bush jacket and worn fatigue cap. He obviously knows which way the winds are blowing in Caribbean politics, and though he didn't manage to grow a beard, he did call his followers "comrades," and told them, "The mandate is your call for revolutionary change in this country." The old Bradshaw resurfaced briefly when he shouted "Vox populi, vox Dei!" but when that got nothing but baffled looks he followed up with a quick translation: "Power to the people!"
The new Bradshaw is a complete remodeling. The Rolls-Royce is gone now, replaced by an open Land Rover. The cutaways and spats have been banished in favor of dirty khakis. He even talks differently; he used to sound like an Englishman and now he sounds like a cane cutter.
As William M. Tweed, nineteenth-century political boss of New York City's "Tweed Ring" once said, "As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it?"
Colonies do not cease to be colonies because they are independent.
—Benjamin Disraeli
32
The Wooding Report had been delivered, and had solved nothing, and had sunk without a trace. The election on St. Kitts had come and gone, and Robert Bradshaw was still in power. It began to seem that nothing would get the British off the hook.
So they did it themselves, and to hell with dignity. At the beginning of June, less than a month after Bradshaw's re-elec-tion, Joseph Godber, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, showed up in St. Kitts with new proposals that in effect altered the legal status of Anguilla to a Crown Colony of Great Britain without ever quite using that terminology. Bradshaw turned the proposals down, as usual, and Godber carried them on to Anguilla, where the Anguilla Council talked things over with its attorney and said Yes.
And so, on July 7, a bill concerning Anguilla received its First Reading in the British House of Commons. Called the Anguilla Act of 1971, it said that "Her Majesty may by Order in Council make such provision as Her Majesty thinks fit for securing Peace, Order and Good Government in Anguilla" and went on to permit Her Majesty to "appoint for Anguilla a Commissioner" and to "provide a constitution for Anguilla." It further said that "this act shall have effect notwithstanding anything in the West Indies Act 1967," which was the Act that had made St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla an Associated State, independent (as Lord Caradon used to assure the U.N. Committee on Colonialism) from the United Kingdom forever.
For justification, or something that could look like justification in the dark with the light behind it, the Anguilla Act 1971 announced that "in accordance with section 3 (2) of the West Indies Act 1967 which provides for an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to extend in certain circumstances to an Associated State it is hereby declared that this Act (A) extends to the Associated State of St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla, and (B) is required so to extend in the interests of the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom relating to defence and external affairs."
Whether accepting Anguilla as a colony was a defense affair or an external affair the Act didn't spell out.
But what about Bradshaw's potential, as head of an Associated State, to declare his entire nation totally independent of Great Britain? Wouldn't that whisk Anguilla out from under the Anguilla Act 1971? No, it wouldn't; the Act was ready for that: "If at any time . . . there is introduced into the Legislature for the Associated State of St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla a bill or a law terminating the state of association of that State with the United Kingdom, Her Majesty may . . . direct that Anguilla shall not any longer form part of the territory of that State." In other words, Bradshaw could retain even nominal control over Anguilla only if he made no waves.
Most Caribbean governments were very upset about all this. Not only was fragmentation occurring before their very eyes, but the pleasant fiction of associated statehood was being trampled in the mud. The final test of any independent government is its ability to enforce its decisions, and the children were being reminded that, however much they might play at independence, Mother was still in charge.
The least happy of the children was St. Kitts. On July 12, the St. Kitts Legislature passed a motion condemning the British action as "outrageous and illegal," which was perfectly accurate, and calling on other Caribbean Governments for support. Moral support was offered by Jamaica and Trinidad and the rest, and was as effective as it usually is.
Toward the end of July, heads and representatives of seven Caribbean Governments—Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Trinidad and St. Vincent—met in Grenada, primarily to worry the bone of federation yet again, but also to consider the British action on Anguilla. Their statement, called "The Declaration of Grenada," plumped for federation on the one side and deplored the Anguilla Act 1971 on the other. Nobody paid much attention.
In London, the Act moved gracefully through the legal quadrille required for it to become law. The Anguilla Act 1971 was the enabling legislation that would permit an Order in Council, which in turn would do the actual colonizing of Anguilla. The Act became law with no trouble, the Order in Council was published on August 3, and Anguilla's two-year-old victory over the British was finally acknowledged on August 6.
The Beacon reported the famous victory under the headline "Thousands of Anguillans Attend Swearing-In Ceremony":
Thousands of Anguillans, dressed in gay holiday attire, turned out on Friday morning to celebrate the first "Anguilla Day" which was marked by special ceremonies at the Court House for the swearing in of twelve members of the Council and the election of a Leader of the Anguilla Council.
. . . The other elected member of the Council, Mr. Wallace Rey, did not take the oath, but was seen among the crowd as the ceremony took place.
Following the impressive ceremony, Anguillans in their thousands formed a procession and, headed by Council members and a steel band, marched to Ronald Webster Park. There an "Anguilla Day" service of praise and thanksgiving was held with Mr. Campbell Fleming as chairman. Mr. Ronald Webster spoke briefly to thank all concerned for their help over the past fifty months in bringing about the achievement of direct relationship with Great Britain; especially H. M. Government and succeeding Commissioners Mr. Cumber, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Watson.
. . . Friday was a public holiday and Anguillans were in a mood to celebrate a new era. Scores of private parties and public dances were being held, and on Sunday the Churches of Anguilla will hold special thanksgiving services.
A special address by H. M. Commissioner and Mr. Ronald Webster, followed by a recording of the proceedings at the swearing-in ceremony and the Thanksgiving service in the park, will be broadcast by Radio Anguilla at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.
Even in victory, of course, the Anguillans can t show a united front; there's Wallace Rey lurking around in the crowd instead of being up on stage getting sworn in as a Council member. But two weeks later the Beacon could report another happy ending:
Mr. Wallace Rey Takes Oaths
The thirteenth member of the Anguilla Council, Mr. Wallace Rey, who refused to be sworn in at the special meeting of the Council on 6th August, was sworn in on Tuesday August 17th. Mr. Wallace Rey took and subscribed the oaths of allegiance and office before H. M. Commissioner as prescribed by the Anguilla Order in Council. Mr. Rey did not take the oaths on August 6th when all the other members were ceremoniously sworn in, his reason being that he did not know what "law" he was sweari
ng to.
And so the last piece clicked into place, and the Anguillan rebellion ended as it had begun—in confusion. The legal status of the island remained as baffling as ever, but all parties had agreed to ignore the legalities and simply get the job done. Anguilla remains technically one-third of the nation of St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, but does not vote in that nation's elections, is not represented in that nation's Legislature, does not pay taxes to or receive funding from that nation, does not fly that nation's flag, does not feel itself bound by that nations laws, and is not connected to that nations Civil Service, Police Department or judiciary. Anguilla is definitely not a colony of Great Britain, but is governed by a British Commissioner appointed by the Queen.
In the two and a half years following the British invasion of Anguilla, the Royal Engineers worked like soldier ants across the island, building schools, paving roads, starting an electrification program, studying the water table, and generally tidying up the effects of the previous three hundred years of neglect. When they left, on September 14, 1971, they were technically the same invading army that had swept ashore on March 19, 1969, but never has an invading army been given a farewell to equal that written by Atlin Harrigan in the Beacon:
Farewell Royal Engineers
Anguillans have learned with real regret of plans for the departure from our island of Royal Engineers. Their work is done and they are required elsewhere.
Since March 19, 1969, when the British Forces landed on the island, the presence of these friendly visitors has been increasingly welcomed. They came to prevent trouble and as a protection from our sister island of St. Kitts. Not only are they soldiers of the Queen, but they are experienced and capable engineers, electricians, mechanics, builders and development planners. They have put their time to good use, and the numerous additions, (in every development area) to the Anguilla scene are evidence of their ability along peaceful lines and their wish to serve another Commonwealth island.
The various buildings and other facilities built by the Royal Engineers during the last 30 months have been mentioned before, but their greatest contribution to Anguilla and the people of the island has been, perhaps, their friendly and cooperative attitude to the people, who will miss them and their ever-ready help.
Many Anguillans have made lasting friends of Royal Engineers' personnel.
The Beacon would like to pay tribute on behalf of all Anguillans, to the capable commanders of the British Forces on the island over the past two and a half years: Col. Norrie Giles, Col. John Waymark, Col. Robin Jukes-Hughes, Col. Bruce Brown, M.B.E. and last but certainly not least the present commander, Major Leslie J. Kennedy, R.E., and all their men.
The Royal Engineers came in peace and they go in peace. We thank them for their help and their friendships and we wish every member of the British Forces who has been on the island Godspeed and good fortune as the last contingent departs.
Bibliography
Newspapers:
Times (London), 1967-1971
Financial Times (London), 1967-1971
Daily Telegraph (London), 1967-1971
Daily Express (London), 1967-1969
Daily Mail (London), 1967-1969
The Guardian (London), 1968-1970
Sunday Telegraph (London), 1968-1969
Sun (London), 1969
Evening Standard (London), 1969
Sunday Times (London), 1969-1971
Evening News (London), 1969
Daily Sketch (London), 1969
The Observer (London), 1969
Daily Mirror (London), 1969
The People (London), 1969
Caribbean Business News (Toronto), 1971
Antigua Star, 1967
Guyana Graphic, 1968, 1969
Trinidad Guardian, 1968
Advocate-News (Barbados), 1968,1969 Daily Gleaner (Jamaica), 1968, 1969 The New York Times, 1967-1971 Chronicle (San Francisco), March 1969 Sunday News (New York), 1970 Post (Washington, D.C.), 1971 Beacon (Anguilla), 1967-1971 Labour Spokesman (St. Kitts), 1967-1969 Democrat (St. Kitts), 1967-1969
The Conch Shell #1-7, and Research Papers #1-4, and Special Papers #1-2 (London,Toronto), 1968-1970
Articles:
Anonymous, "Last Years Bradshaw." Private Eye, London, March 28, 1969.
"Crabro," "Mr. Bradshaw's Chestnuts." Spectator, London, March 14, 1970.
Feigen, Gerald, Gossage, Howard, Newhall, Scott, Wade, Larry, and Gold, Herbert, "The Log of the Anguilla Free Trade & Charter Company." Scanlans Monthly, New York, April, 1970.
Harris, David, "Anguilla's Tradition of Independence." Geographical Magazine, London, June, 1969.
Hatch, John, "Who Wants Anguilla?" New Statesman, London, April 18, 1969.
Kohr, Leopold, "The Truth About Anguilla." Spectator, London, May 30, 1969.
Naipaul, V. S., "St. Kitts: Papa and the Power Set." New York Review of Books, New York, May 8,1969.
Prior-Palmer, Diana, "The Prisoners of St. Kitts." Spectator, London, October 20, 1967.
Smithers, David, "Anguilla's UDI." Venture, London, October, 1967.
Updike, John, "Letter from Anguilla." The New Yorker, New York, June 22, 1968.
Watkins, Alan, "Mr. Stewart's Caribbean Jaunt." New Statesman, London, March 28,1969.
Waugh, Auberon, "War of Whitlock's Ear." Spectator, London, March 28, 1969.
Magazines:
Spectator (London), 1967,1969,1970
Private Eye (London), 1969
New Statesman (London), 1969
The Listener (London), 1969
West Indies Chronicle (London), 1969
Newsweek (New York), 1967,1969
Time (New York), 1967, 1969
Life (New York), 1969
U.S. News it World Report (New York), 1969
Senior Scholastic (New York), 1969
Commonwealth European and Overseas Review (London), July, 1967
Books:
Alexander, Andrew, and Watkins, Alan, The Making of the Prime Minister 1970. Macdonald Unit 75, London, 1970. Bradshaw, Robert L., The Present Crisis in the State of St. C hristopher-Nevis-Anguilla. Government Printery, St. Kitts, 1967.
Brisk, William J., The Dilemma of a Ministate: Anguilla. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 1969.
Marten, Neil, Theirs Not to Reason Why. Conservative Political Centre, London, 1969. Rickards, Colin, Anguilla: Island in Revolt. (In manuscript.)
Public Documents:
Hansard. Lords and Commons, June 1967-June 1969. Report of the Commission of Inquiry to Examine the Anguilla Problem. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1970. Report of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Constitutional Conference 1966. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1966.
Poetry:
Hollis, Christopher, "Battle of Anguilla." Spectator, London, April 4, 1969.
Updike, John, "Anguilla 1960." New Republic, 'New York, October, 1967.
Index
Adams, Peter, 30-32, 35, 39, 41, 45,46, 59,81 Barbados Conference and, 102, 104, 106, 116,121 Bradshaw and, 53, 58 Edgings and, 55 Fact Finding Mission and, 70 Feigen and, 93 Great Britain supported by, 232
Johnston and, 122 Kohr and, 92, 95, 131 as leader, 107-8 money for Anguilla and, 116 in New York, 96 protest meeting called by, 54 referendum and, 78 in San Francisco, 97-99 Southwell and, 60-61 Thant and, 58, 68,119 title of, 127 Advertisement for Anguilla,
126-33, 137
Aliens Landholding Ordinance, 48
Alleyne, Sidney, 161-63 Anguilla Act of 1971, 259-61 Anguilla Airways, 73 Anguilla Charter Company, 114 "Anguilla Day," 261-62 Anguilla Improvement Association, 72, 73, 96 Anguilla: Island in Revolt
(Rickards), 69, 75 Anguilla Pier, 28 "Anguilla White Paper, The,"
127-33, 137 Antigua, 21, 24, 111
Arawaks, 15, 17
Arms for Anguilla, 144, 189
Army engineers, 234-35, 247,
263-64 Arson, 242 Aspinall, Trevor, 248 Associated Statehood, 120, 122, 260
for Anguilla,
29-30, 32-33, 35, 37.42, 44-46, 49-51
Bahamas, 112
Ball, Ian, 178, 196-99, 209, 247 Bank of America, 163-64 Bank of Panama, 162,163 Banks on Anguilla, 142-43, 161-164
Barbados, 21, 24,109, 111 Barbados Conference (first),
101-4, 106-9, 116, 121 Barbados Conference (second),
109-10, 132 Barbuda, 172 Barclays Bank, 161 Barton, Capt. Robert, 13 Batchelor, Ronald, 62 Beacon, The (periodical), 36, 71, 108,146-48,157,173 on Hodge, 153-54 press stolen from, 193-94 on Shepherd, 248-50 on Whitlock's Caribbean tour, 172
Beauty contest incident, 42-43, 47
Berman, Dr. Edgar, 92-94 Berro, Pedro, 122-23 Beswick, Lord, 46
* * *
Biafra, 56
Bierce, Ambrose, 251 Birch, Nigel, 218 Bird, Vere, 203, 241 Bottomley, Arthur, 49, 51 Boumedienne, Houari, 162 Bowman, A. Hunter, 142-43 Bradshaw, Robert Llewellyn, 25-28, 30, 32-34, 38-41, 44, 47 Adams and, 53, 58 Anguilla as Crown Colony
and, 259 in Anguillan "family," 225 Barbados Conference and, 102, 106 British aid requested by, 66 Esso Oil Company and, 142 Fisher, Chapman and, 149, 150
on fragmentation, 171 Gaskell and, 83 kidnapping of, 64-65 Kittitian invasion of Anguilla
and, 69-70,138 Lambton on, 220-21 Lloyd and, 78-79 London Times on, 124 mail and medical supplies
cut off by, 52, 54, 56-57, 74 Nevis and, 150,171-72 new Emergency Regulations
and, 84,156 PAM and, 190 on peacekeeping force for
Anguilla, 110-11 rebellion and, 66-68, 81-82 revolutionary demeanor of,
257-58 Rickards and, 159-60 Smithers and, 60 on trials of detainees, 155 undermining of, 255-57
Whitlock and, 164,176-77, 187
Wooding Report and, 254 writs served on, 152 Breadfruit Tree Boys, 67 British Guiana, see Guyana British Honduras, 21, 22 Brown, Col. Bruce, 263 Brown, George, 218-19 Bruns, Bill, 209 Burrowes Park, 159 Byron, Vincent, 50,52
Cabinet Statement of St. Kitts, 58-60
Campbell, Jean, 208, 209, 223 Caradon, Lord, 16, 22,122, 188, 199, 227, 231 Lee and, 232, 234, 235, 238 Webster and, 228,232-33, 236, 237, 252 Caribbean Bar Association, 59 "Caribbean Fact Finding Mission," 66, 68-70, 75 Caribbean islands
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