The Press. Saturday, July 6, 1918. The Problem of the Pacific.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16257, 6 July 1918, Page 8

The Press. Saturday, July 6, 1918. The Problem of the Pacific.

A statement recently appeared in the " Vossische Zeitung." to the effect that *'■ no German politician doubts the "restoration of the Pacific colonies," hat that " should Germany ultimately "permit negotiations for their sale or " exchange she would ignore England " and negotiate with Japan, recognising "the Pacific ns Japan's natural " Bphere." At first sight this looks like a more than usually infantile attempt ";o sow distension between Great Britain and her Japanese Ally. If that were all, wd Could afford to laugh at it. The Japanese throughout have shown frothing but loyalty to the Entente, and £j£fen if&here were the slightest reason

to doubt their loyalty, they certainly aro not so simple as io trust to any promises or professions held out by such a convicted arch-pcrjurer as Germany. Tho impudent vapourings of the "Vos- " sische Zeitung" are, in fact, of importance only as showing how essential it is that the war shall be conducted to such a conclusion that Germany shall not be left in a position to say what she will or will not "permit"' to be done in connexion with tho future of the Pacific.

For ourselves, wo look upon a satisfactory settlement of the Pacific question r.s one of the most important subjects to be dealt with in the peace negotiations. The United States are almost as much interested in it as ourselves, and unquestionably the claims of Japan will have to be considered. France is also concerned, owing to her possession of Xew Caledonia and the Marquesas, and her. joint interest with Great Britain 'n the New Hebrides. According to a paper read by Sir William MacGregor before the Royal Colonial Ii stitute, 'he total possessions whtlly Fiench. in the Pacific amount to an area of about 10,000 square miles, with a population of 100,000. As settlement colonies they are not, and never bo, of much value. Japan in 1914 held outside of the Japanese Empire proper the islands of the Bonin Group. These have an area of about 38 square miles. They were used by the Japanese from 1493 as a criminal colony, and wero abandoned by them in 1725. They were taken possession of by Great Britain in 1827, and by Russia in 1828,' and were rcoccupied by Japan in 1876, after a settlement liad been formed on Peel Island by people from Hawaii. Shortly after entering the present war they captured and occupied tho Marianne Islands, belonging to Germany, but already containing a good many Japanese settlers. This group will naturally fall to our ally in the settlement. "The "Japanese," Fays Sir "William MacGregor, "are now finding out that " many of the islands aro arranged in " convenient trading groups north of "tho Equator in tho. WeStorn Pacific, " and that though the area is not large "some of the groups are very valuable "economically, and especially so to a " maritime Power." One of the islands taken by Japan (Angaur} contains a considerable quantity of phosphates. German possessions in the Pacific are thus set down in a German year book: Kaiser William's Land (German New Guine-a), 70,135 square miles, population 110,000; the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands, 22,046 square miles, 210,000 inhabitants} the Caroline Islands, 598 square miles, 40,900 inhabitants; the Marianne Islands, 241 square miles, population 3118; the Marshall Islands, 156 square miles, population 17,500; and German Samoa, 993 square miles, and 37,000 inhabitants. The total area is thus 91,169 square miles, and the population 418,618, of whom 1971 were whites including 1334 Germans. These possessions, as Sir William MacGregor points out, were consequently of no value as colonies for overflow of population from the German Empire, though of great importance commercially.

So far as Australia and New Zealand and the South Sea Islands already under the British flag are concerned, the disposal of the German possessions is one of the vital issues of the war. Were these possessions, or any 'of them, handed back to <3ermany, to he used at her discretion as naval bases, air-bases, and wireless stations, it means that there would be no settled peace bo far as we are concerned. We should have to be always "en vedette.'' ready to counter any preparations made by Germany. There is also the question of the commercial war to bo considered. Sir William MacGregor does not hesitate to say that "trade and 'commerce in " and across the Pacific Ocean will, in "the future, assume enormous magni- " tude and importance, probably as " great as, or oven greater than that "of the Atlantic." The Germans have made themselves anathema for all time as foul fighters ill war. They Were never fair fighters even in trade, and it is certain that, their, methods will be infinitely more unscrupulous in future. Having once ousted them from the Pacific, we Should be fools indeed to allow them to oome back again. "We are glad Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr Hughes have made it plain that we are absolutely opposed to the return to Germany of her Pacific possessions. If the people of New Zealand and Australia are wise, they will strongly support their representatives in this matter. We must not take it for granted that the Imperial Government realise the importance of this question as clearly as we do ourselves. We must not forget that the history of the Pacific in the past has been to a large extent a record of warnings and pnv tests against foreign aggression, on the part of Australia and New Zealand, and a steady disinclination cn the part of the British Government to assume any fresh responsibilities in this part of the world. The disgraceful bungling by which Lord Granville practically invited Germany to annex the northern part of New Guinea, within three months after Lord Derby had informed the Australian Governments that "Her

''Majesty's Government are confident " that no foreign Power contemplates •' interference with New Guinea," is not likely to bo repealed. Still, there will bo many conflicting claims and difficult problems to be dealt with in the pcace negotiations and if we wish our rights and interests to bo respected wo mus: take care that our case is plainly stated.