More Carribean to U.S. in world war I and II

First post so be nice.

The sale of the of the danish virgin islands to the U.S. in the this time period is pretty much what made me think, what if other countrys sold some of their island possesions to pay for their war debt to the U.S., or in exchange for aid lend lease style?

Britain, France, and the Netherlands are the only ones with possessions at that time as far as I can see. So do you think that this is a possiblity, or would they never give up there territory?

What affects would this have on the world wars?
 

Chilperic

Banned
First post so be nice.

The sale of the of the danish virgin islands to the U.S. in the this time period is pretty much what made me think, what if other countrys sold some of their island possesions to pay for their war debt to the U.S., or in exchange for aid lend lease style?

Britain, France, and the Netherlands are the only ones with possessions at that time as far as I can see. So do you think that this is a possiblity, or would they never give up there territory?

What affects would this have on the world wars?

I doubt they would want to seeing as they need all the land they can get to use for the war effort.
 

Sachyriel

Banned
First post so be nice.

The sale of the of the danish virgin islands to the U.S. in the this time period is pretty much what made me think, what if other countrys sold some of their island possesions to pay for their war debt to the U.S., or in exchange for aid lend lease style?

Britain, France, and the Netherlands are the only ones with possessions at that time as far as I can see. So do you think that this is a possiblity, or would they never give up there territory?

What affects would this have on the world wars?

Considering it's still a time of high national pride and 'Empires' (However crumbly they are), I do not think so. But the U.S. maybe able to suggest it.

Besides, the Caribbean can be taken by force if necessary if you're going to make a time line about it. Something like a revolt, widespread along lots of islands, the U.S. steps in to quell it as the Europeans rebuild their decimated armies. With this development you can see the United States refuse to return them and invoke the Munroe Doctrine.

Or it could be a Zimmerman POD and Mexico, instead of invading the US, takes the Caribbean, which cries out for American help. They arrive, and invade Mexico at another date. After that, not only does the US have almost all of the Caribbean and a lot of Mexico.

Anyways, think outside the box, visit the Alien Space Bats forum to see crazier things.
 
I dont think that most of the islands were that much of a resource help, they were more of a drain having to protect and supply them.

Why not off load them for war funds
 
Strict neutrality...

Suppose that, for whatever reason, the USA was more of a true neutral, strictly interpreting The Hague 1907. Some in government want to send money to the Allies, but it's blocked by a more neutral, keep us out of war, faction. So, someone comes up with a compromise. Buy the islands. It's a way for a cash strapped Entente to get money at a time of desperate need.

Alternatively, Germany, as war begins, sees that Japan can jump in, claiming treaty obligations as an excuse to snap up Pacific islands. They offer them at bargain rates to the USA.
Germany gets a few dollars, and more important, it might increase tensions between the USA and Japan...a good thing for Japan to be focused elsewhere...
 
I dont think that most of the islands were that much of a resource help, they were more of a drain having to protect and supply them.

Why not off load them for war funds

If you don't mind I'll focus on the Dutch possessions in the Caribbean.
The two most important possessions are Suriname and Curacao (apart from a bunch of useless islands).
Suriname had amongst others the world's largest supply of bauxiet, which is essential for aluminium.
Curacao has some refineries (don't know when those were built), so should also have value for the USA.
The remaining islands are too small to be of much value to the USA, so the Dutch might as well keep them. They also don't really have any strategic value for the Americans, as they already have enough bases in the Caribbean without them.

During WWI the Netherlands were neutral, so any deal with the USA (after they enter the war) would be highly suspect. There would also be less of a need for cash. Anything gotten in lieu of the Dutch possessions would also be practically impossible to get back to the Continent.

During WWII the Dutch possessions were already guarded by the Americans, so a total take-over wouldn't be that strange.
However, untill May '40 the Dutch aren't desperate enough to sell these possessions and after that date the Americans need their military production themselves; any ordered equipment has a large chance of being confiscated by the American Army before it can reach the Dutch.
I doubt the Dutch would trade off these possessions for anything but usefull equipment; bombers, fighters, artillery, armour etc.

Conclusion; why would the Americans agree to pay for something which is already helping the Allied cause without paying for it?
 
What i was thinking is the us is neutral through out ww1, putting the allies in a little bit more of a pinch, with a more prolonged war with industries strained and costs mounting.

Maybe a stronger CP navy or weaker allies navy so they may feel that the possessions are in danger.

I also like the german pacific possessions bit, I dont know what the time frame would be for selling they were conquered very early in the war.
 
I doubt they would want to seeing as they need all the land they can get to use for the war effort.
Small Caribbean islands do little to advance the war-effort in terms of production or troops, and are very vulnerable to German submarines. Also, the relatively meager amount of money that's being made is already going to the US for guns and debt anyway.
 
Another possiblitly I though of, the u.s. gets worried that the debts owed them can not be paid back, so they demand some collateral.

A financial crisis hits, allies cant pay, so the U.S. takes the collateral
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
There are Islands that could easily wind up in U.S. hands, during or immediately after both wars, but the hard part is to come up with WHY the U.S. would want them.

The Carrribean Islands the U.S. does possess are mostly hold overs from the late unpleasntness with Spain. The Virgin Islands are a WW I purchase, but the U.S. was looking at them for coaling since the 1860's It is difficult to see any reason to take over the other islands. The Dutch West Indies are not a high value, not if you already have the Virgin Islands as a coaling site. I can see the U.S. buying them during either war if the Dutch offered them cheap, they would enhance the defense of the Canal, or if the Germans were looking to make a purchase. Otherwise...
 
maybe a ww1 with out britain, german attacks and seizures of french territory, the u.s. joins only in the western hemisphere and graps the newly german territory
 
Top