-11-
17.
In subsequent discussion Sir Hubert Rance made the
following points:
(i) that Bermuda and the Bahamas were not included
in the scheme for federation, that both islands
stood aloof from participation and that so long as
"Bay Street" existed in the Bahamas he did not
think there was any likelihood of this feeling
being changed there.
(ii) that he was doubtful whether Federation would, in
fact, come about in five, or perhaps even in ten
years.
(iii) that some politicians, particularly in the smaller
islands, ignoring the economic and defence factors,
still felt that self-government without federation
could be obtained. A few people in the larger islands
were gradually coming to realize that independence
for each separate territory was impracticable. Some
politicians also saw their present position of
prominence threatened with engulfment under
federation and were opposed to the scheme for this
reason.
(iv) that, in his view, there was no possibility of
S
self-sufficiency without federation but there was a
prospect of obtaining it with federation in spite
of the admittedly very high birth-rate and the
decreasing death-rate.
(v) that the main reactions to the proposals for
federation were twofold; the larger territories
/were