THE PACIFIC.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16430, 25 January 1919, Page 10

THE PACIFIC.

AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE. JAPANESE COMMENT. (By Cable.—Press Assooaatiqi-^Ctipyriglit.) (Australian and N. 55. Ca£l«' Association.) SYDNEY, ' January 24. Japanese files to December 20th discuse tho Pacific question. The "NichiNichi. Shimbun.," in an article, complains that' Australia is. trying to mono-; polise New Guinea trade generally, and attempting to prevent the development of Japanese trade in the South Seas. The article enlarges upon,, the assistance that Japan' gave to the Allies in the' war, and aslcs: "Had tho Japanese warships not mobolised when ;the enemy warships were ravaging tho seas, could Australia and New-Zealand be as safe as they are': now/ or:the ,-AusI tralasian have been vsafely transi pprted, or the .German Sbuth. Sea islands so easily , oQCupiedp?/ i; The article j insists on ,things. Australia, it says, is trying to check the southward .advance of Japan. -.'She wanted to" utilise-'the cap tiireii tories for this purpose, and declares that when the disposition of the -.German colonies is dealt with at the Peace Conference, .particularly' those south of the Equator, any exclusive policy should be opposed, by all means, /and Japan should firmly insist upon-her right, unless compensations are secured. for the services rendered by the Japanese navy, otherwise dignity of the Japanese Empire will be lost. The entire area of the islands south of the Equator is 900,000 square miles. On these the Japanese could develop peacefully. economically, and naturally X The article asserts that many, Japanese had plannedto 'develop .their opportunities in the South' Seas. , ■ FEELING IN' GERMANY. , NEW YORK, January 21. *>The correspondent of the "Chicago News" states that ah official statement in - tho "Berlins Gazette" attributed to the German Colonial Office, says: — President ■ "Wilson made it clear that the " Peace Conference would equitably and justly solve- the colonial question. The, German Government feels that the 'Entente's' pretention -'of-.the colonies would ;be; neither fair nor just, and would be evidence'of its'intention to suppress the German nation. The correspondent interviewed Herr • Gerhard j formerly, a member of the German:. Colonial ? Office. ■ He said it was possible that .Germany .would "agree to an international ..commission for the government of the colonies for a period of ten or twenty years, with an understanding that when a strong-Republican Government was built up, Germany would, again assume control of her colonies.