The Dominion WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY U. 1017. THE VOICE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3003, 14 February 1917, Page 6

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY U. 1017. THE VOICE OF SOUTH AFRICA

The determination _ that Germany's colonics iu Africa —particularly in South and Central Africa —will never be handed back to the Germans was reached long before Mb. Walter Long, _ Secretary of State for this Colonies, made his authoritative declaration on the subject in his recent speech at Westminster) Both General Botha and General Smuts havo made that firm resolution absolutely clear, and in doing .'so they hacl the support of every British subject, and oi every loyal Dutchman within tho four provinces of the Union. A cable message to-day states tha(;_ General Smuts declared at the official reception .at Capo Town in his honour, that South 1 Africa had secured a right "to a voice in tlio disposal of the African •t continent. Speaking at the citizens' banquet tendered to hira and to the Prime Minister on their return from tho triumphant campaign in German South-West Africa, General Smuts went still further. Ho said that the Union, having done its duty, and carried out the wishes of the Imperial Government, the question had to lie dtcTded: "Arc we going to stick to tho country wo so brilliantly conquered % ■ It seems .as dear as noonday," ho continued, "that, if SouthWest Africa docs not belong to the Union, the- day will come when the Union will belong to German SouthWest Africa. If wo want a peaceful development of South Africa, wo will hold what we have, and .make others understand - the world over that we are determined to hold what wo have." General Botha, on tho same occasion, while .approving in every detail of General Smuts's pronouncement, addressed himself chiefly to the continuous plotting against Great Britain which had proceeded for tho first days of | Germany's settlement in SouthWest Africa down to tho invasion of tho Union by Gorman troops. The Germans had shamelessly intrigued to bring about a, rebellion, and had imposed upon the credulity of a section of the Dutch in a' manner as sinister as it was cruel and callous. Documents and maps had been found at Windhuk, and had been read and examined by himself, said General Botha, which proved that had Germany succeeded in defeating the Allies—on 1 which point the Kaiser, before the war, 'had no manner •of doubt—South and Central Africa were to form a "Greater Germany," and the Boors, of having a new Republic set up, as promised them by tho Kaiser himself, were to be confined to a, small aild clearly-defined area, which was marked 011 tho German maps, "Boer Reservation." Kaiser Wilhelm, during the two years fwhich immediately preceded the outbreak of hostilities, had reached the very zenith of that remarkable variety of megalomania, and of semi-madness which for generations have'been abiding characteristics of tho Hohenzollerns. His boundless egotism, and his practice of hurling defiance at tho world in general had their immediate affect upon his representatives abroad. Everyone of Germany's overseas Governors and officials strivecf to omulate their theatrical and braggart Kaiser. To this circumstance are due the_ facts that Germans as colonists quickly proved themselves to be barbarous towards the native populations, and always ' envious, scheming, and dangerous neighbours. Just as the Kaiser followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, so did German officialdom in Africa follow the example' of the Kaiser. Emperor Wiliielm, in his tearing up of treaties, merely adhered to tho Hohcnzollern policy first forcibly enunciated by his very unillustrious ancestor, Frederick William IV.. That petty, crazy potentate declared tha't, "Never with my will shall a written paper interfere between Almighty Gob and this country, rule us with its paragraphs, supersede ancient sacred loyalty, my rights, a.ui the needs of my people." The (Streets of Berlin ran blood the same ycartheyear of tho revolution in 1643— and the o,nce-boastful Ivaikeii humbly recanted. r But the Icssoe was soon forgotten. , Not long be fore tho fateful operiing of August 1914, William 11. asserted verj much the same principle before th< people o'f Brandenburg. "I rcgarc my whole position," said he, "a: given to me direct from Heaven and that I havo been called .of tlu Highest to do His work." Ther came tho" magnificent Hohcnzolleri outburst: "Thcro is only one mas tar in this country. That am I Who opposes mo I shall crush t( pieces.' What room for surprisi is possible that Prussians, seni abroad as representatives of Ger many, with sentiments such as tliesi pressed upon them by their Emperor should act as despots, plot agains neighbouring States, and abuse, bf foul, and murder hapless natives?

Mu. Long's timely counsel, that no man should think that tho captured territories will ever return to German rule, was doubtless called forth by tho 'fact that there has been no announcement made of any j formal acts of annexation. Many excellent patriots seemed to read in this refraining from taking full possession, and, as in South-West Africa, permitting German officials to retain their occupations, a possibility, after the war, of the territories reverting to Germany. But the explanation of the non-annexa-tion is that Great Britain is acting in all things concerning the war and Germany in conjunction with her Allies. In tho case of tho African colonics, Tbgoland was captured by French troops from Dahomey, assisted by a British cruiser, while the Germans were driven from tho Cameroons by a- forco consisting of British, French, and Belgians. In East Africa the Teutonic soldiery, and its native levies, have been successfully surrounded j on threo sides—with the Indian Ocean on tho fourth side—by British, Belgians, and Portuguese. South-West Africa, alono among Germany's African colonies, was acquired solely by the, forces of the British Empire, that is, by Boor and British troops enlisted within the Union of South Africa. It will, therefore, be' impossible for Great Britain to tako full possession of any of the four conquered colonies until their future has been finally settled by tho Allies. For the present these colonies aro nominally German, but in tho military occupation of tho Allies. The French, British, and Belgian authorities will, no doubt, make sure that Germany is removed, and for all time, from Wost Africa—Togoland. and the Cameroons; and Union Ministers and people may be said to have permanently decided tho future of South-West Africa and of East Africa. The former, will bo added to the Union: the latter may, be joined to British East Africa, or it may remain a distinct StiitCj as at j)i'csont. Sir Harry Johnston has been advocating that the scheme of Sin John Ki RK should now be carried out, and that ti \b i between tiie Uortuguesc possessions in tho South and Italian Somalila-nd in tho north should, become a second great Empire, such as India, the Empire of Zanzibar. Considerations such as these; however sccin likely to await not J;be immediate luture. .Lhe ono all-important consideration for the present ;timo is that an-end has coino to German rule m Africa.