GERMAN COLONIAL AIMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 93, 12 January 1918, Page 8

GERMAN COLONIAL AIMS

A WEDGE IN AFRICA,

In an article entitled "The World Political Importance of German East Africa," the "Kolnische Zeitung" frankly confesses that Germany has for years aimed at the creation of a German wedge dividing Africa from sea to sea. It says that although Germany, by a treaty in 1911 with France, "apparently", made a final renunciation of the idea of a great colonial empire, she "really aimed at the creation of a Germano-Belgian economic area in the Congo basin from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic." Thus when the war commenced Germany was "deliberately exploiting her incomparable geographical position, in East Africa." The paper proceeds to say that this position constituted a "wedge between the English claims to the sole domination in East Africa and South Africa—a dividing and immovable wedge as long as England did not let it come to a trial of strength." The newspaper confesses that great difficulties confront Germany's colonial war aim. "All our wishes," it says, "will bo realised only if by our battles in Europe wo compel England to recognise us as an equal colonial Power, and to draw the necessary eonsequences in the future rearrangement of Africa."

A fuller report of the reccnt lecturo by Dr. Solf, German Colonial Secretary. shows that he would prevent the employment of African troops m Europe by creating a balance of power in Africa. This, he thinks, could best be secured by a redistribution 'of Africa. Thus no colonial power could risk transferring troops to Europe without having to fear an attack from another colonial power in Africa. "The coloured troops in Africa would tie one another down," he said.

Tho "Berliner Tageblatfc," commenting on tho lccture, admits that tho effect of Dr. Solf's proposals nould mean the transference to Africa of armaments, the competition in which was confined to Europe before tho war. • Router's correspondent in Paris states that in comment on tho proposal of the Labour Congress that all colonies between tho Sahara and the Zambesi .should be united in an onorniotfs State administered by a Leaguo of Nations, "Lo Temps" says:—"lt is inadmissiblo thus to_ despoil Belgium, Portugal, and Spain, not to mention France and Britain, in favour of a League of Nations, including Austria, Turkey, and Bulgaria, which havo been little known hitherto for colonial cxperionce or the gentleness of their rule. Such a grotesque idea would never bo entertained by any, British statesman. Whatever generosity tho Allies show when formulating their conditions, they cannot say anything better than Mr. Lloyd George's declaration that the fate of the Ger« man colonies and Mesopotamia will be determined by the Peaco Conference."