The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1918. THE GERMAN COLONIES AND PEACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1918. THE GERMAN COLONIES AND PEACE

—$ The absence of really'definite and concrete proposals relating to tho disposal of the former Gorman colonies is a serious defect in the Allied programme of war and peace. Thi3 criticism may be offered, not from any limited standpoint of Dominion interests, but on tho broadest grounds. As General Smuts has pointed out on many occasions, and never more cogently than in the address before the Roy.il Geographical Society which was reported in our news columns yesterday, this question of the German colonies is, or should 'be, of the deepest interest to all nations, since it vitally concerns the future welfare of the whole world. General Shuts is first and foremost an able and farseeing: spokesman for the British Dominions, and the Dominions are fortunate in having such a representative in the British War Cabinet and in the councils of the Allies. But in elaborating his central contention that the German colonies must never be restored he very greatly strengthened his cass by giving clear prominence to the fact that the British Dominions arc asking nothing in this matter which is not equally demanded in the interests of future world-peace and the natural and unrestricted development of white and coloured races. The issue at stake is not whether 60 much African and other territory shall or shall not be handed back to Germany for economic exploitation. If this were all, the re«t_of the world, including the British Empire, might regard tho restoration to Germany of her late- oversea possessions with equanimity. But it is as far as possible from being true that the Allies are merely called upon to deal with a simple question of territorial ownership and sovereignty.

Two really vital quest-ions are raised. First of all tho Allies are called upon to determine whether Germany shall bo re-established in a series of strategical bases offering great, though as yet undeveloped, possibilities of attack on the nonGerman woild. In the second place they are asked whether certain primitive races shall be handed over to German taskmasters as helots, and perhaps ultimately to serve as can-non-fodder. In his address to tho Royal Geographical' Society, GekKitAL Smuts Jealfc chiefly with the menace to the future peace of the world that would be involved in restoring tho German colonies, but he has affirmed also that tho restoration of German rule would be a hideous misfortune for the native races of the colonial territories. It is plain enough to all who face the facts that if the Allies restored the German colonies they would flagrantly violate the principles they are pledged to uphold and enforce in Europe- and Asia, and would invito deadly perils for the future. Taking accoirt of Germany's selfrcvolation in this war, and_ of the conditions reigning in Africa, no one can pretend that General Sjiuts has drawn a fantastic picture of Ge-niiary's colonial aims. Her ultimate object, he declares, is to create- an African empire from sea to sea—an empire which would give her a recruiting ground for vast native armies, and submarine-

bases on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This programme in essentials has been freely advertised b< prominent German statesmen, and lull weight must bo given to the consideration that failure .in the present war will make the Prussian militarists -nd tbo money-barons who share their guilt more than ever eager to pursue their schemes in extra-European territory. Given such an end to the war as the- Allies hope for, these factions may find themselves discredited at home, hut this certain'} , does not mean that it would bo safe to give them a free hand in the African and other colonies which were formerly under German rule. On the contrary, it is clear that by restoring these colonies tho. Allies would leave fatally incomplete the chain of safeguards by which they hope to prevent any repetition of the frightful calamity of world-war.

As it happens, it is supremely important to the people of the British Dominons that the late German colonies should be dealt with in euch a fashion as to satisfy justice and avert'future clangers. Gen , - eral Shuts expressed an opinion that is all but universal throughout the overseas Empire when he declared that the conquered German colonies can only be regarded as guarantees for tho future peace of the work!. But there is great practical importance- in emphasising_ the fact that in strenuously opposing tho restoration of German colonies we are hot governed only by self-interest, but are acting according to our lights as good citizens of the world, and with an eye to universal welfare. It is true that self-intorest enters. It is as intolerable to the people of Australia and New Zealand that Germany should bo allowed to regain possession of part of New Guineaand of other Pacific islands as it would bo to tho people o£ Britain that she should be allowed to establish aerodromes and submarine bases in tho Isle of Wight,. Simihr things might be said of the attitud;: of the Dominions, and of the South African Union in particular, where African territories are concerned. But the dangers of which we are keenly sensible and which wo are determined to avert by every means in our power are not dangers to ourselves alone. The whole world, and not only the British Empire would bo menaced, directly or" indirectly, if Germany were permitted to resumo her colonial policy of Bcientifically exploiting the native races of African and other territories, and laying the foundations of schemes c? future conquest. It is not as having sectional interests to servo, but as being commandingIy placed to recognise dangers which threaten the peace and welfare of the world at large that the Dominions must make their weight felt in tho Allied councils when the fate of tho German colonies is in question. _ As Gene_ral Smuts truly observes, the Dominions want a new Monroe Doctrine for tho south, and equally from the standpoint of safeguarding world peace and with an eye to tho welfare of primitive races tho aspiration should appeal irresistibly not only to Britain but to the Allies as a group and to all nations which desire to see militarism abolished and tho world made safe. Up to the present we' have had policy declarations relating to the German colonies only from Britain and America, and these have amounted to little more than professions of altruistic aim. A much more definite attitude is demanded on international as well as on national grounds. Whether the solution of tho problem is to be found in the establishment of international control over the former German colonies or under some alternative plan is a matter for discussion. The essential demand of the situation is that Germany should be given no further opportunity of developing a colonial empire with an eye to predatory conquest.