The Press. Monday, February 3, 1919. Shadow or Substance ?

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 6

The Press. Monday, February 3, 1919. Shadow or Substance ?

Conflicting reports continuo to reach us irora Paris regarding tho discussions in the Po.ice Conference touching tho future of tho German colonies. The statements made which are not issued officially have to he accepted with a good deal of reservo, but it seems, as if an attempt is being made to find a formula" which, whilo accopting tho pririciplo of supervision by tho Leaguo of Nations, shall yet meet tho views of those "who are now in military occupation of the colonios taken from Germany. Frankly, we think this is attempting -to attain tho unattainable. There is an old axiom that things cannot be and not bo at tho same time. If tho over-sovereignty of tho Leaguo of Nations is to be so shadowy as to amount to no interference with the sovereign right of the occupying Power, then why introduce it at all? Wo have no hesitation in saying that any attompt at dual control will be prejudicial to the interests of the colonies and their inhabitants, and a source of dangor, General Maurice states that tho French are disposed to regard the jdea of placing tho colonies under the controj of the League as a return to the discredited system of condominium. Ihis, he argues, is a misconception, as only one Power will administer each 1 colony. Ho omits -to stato that what is proposed is that tho administering Power shall only act with tho permission of what is virtually a condominium of a wholo tribe of nations, if all the ( smaller States are to be included as well as the Great Powors. If, as is suggested in on e -telegram, the Loague of Nations is to control tho finances of the administered colonies, and hold itself liable to make up any deficiency, it is evident that tho control to bo exercised over the trustee in administration will necessarily be very close, and very ro al. What makos tho whole position ospoeially unsatisfactory/ i s that it is proposed to place the colonies under tho League of Nations, before any League has been formed, before wo know how it is to bo constituted, what are its powers, and what machinery is to be set up to carry out its orders, and enforce its decrees. This is putting the cart before the horse with a veZ geance Even at tho cost of hurting Mr \\ ilson s feelings, the proposal ought not to be entertained, and we are glad to see that there seems to be a substantial body of opinion in tho Unitod States in favour of the viow N that the Peace Conference will make ' ii great mistake if it neglects practical considerations in favour of an unworkable ideal.