Unique among
world colonial historical records is the partition agreement of St. Martin
between two European powers of 1648.
A small 37-square-mile island, by this agreement, was effectively divided
between France and Holland and the agreement stands to this day. The
partition agreement is remarkable also when one considers that on November
11th 1493 on his second voyage through the Caribbean, Columbus seemed to
anticipate this agreement to partition the island by naming it after the
saint, Martin, who reportedly divided his coat and shared it with the Lord
Jesus Christ.
There is some dispute as to whether the island of Nevis was intended to be
the real St. Martin based on reinterpretations of old maps. In any event,
the island we are concerned with was, widely known and accepted as St.
Martin by the time of the partition agreement of 1648.
The island had been called "Sualouiga" or "Land of Salt" by the more
aggressive Caribs about 150 years before Columbus opened up the Caribbean to
European colonization.
The Dutch were looking for a foothold in the "Corral" as the Caribbean was
known to them at the time and St. Martin in 1624 was the first place on
which they cast their eyes. They were attracted by the possibilities for the
exploitation of the salt pans. They were in dire need of salt for their fish
industry and for the preservation of meat. Holland at that time was the
dominant maritime power in the world.
France, also in search of colonies, had occupied the island of St. Kitts in
1625 and partitioned it with the British, though this agreement was to last
only until 1783.
