GERMANY AND HER PACIFIC POSSESSIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 138, 28 February 1918, Page 4

GERMANY AND HER PACIFIC POSSESSIONS

HARBOUR BOARD RESOLUTION,

' it the meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board held last evening, the following resolution was. unanimously passed: — , _ . "That the Wellington Harbour Board, realising fully the immense importance of the question of the future occupation and administration of the Pacific colonies formerly held by Germany,' desires to most strongly, urge upon the Dominion' representatives to the Imperial Conference in London that no settlement will be acceptable to the loyal population of New Zealand which leaves possible the re-occu-pation by Germany of any of the be-fore-mentioned colonies." , Several members emphasised the vital importance to Now Zealand ot Germany's Pacific colonies being held by Britain for ever more. The alternative was that Now Zealand would have to support a Navy in order to protect ua against any aggression emanating from such possessions m tne Mr F G. Cobbe said that the sacri; fice in blood that Now Zealand haa made would have been , made in vain were these colonies to bo restored to Germany. "I don't think we can make the resolution too strong he said. "Personally, I would feel that New Zealand had been betrayed if these colonies were handed to Germany i a6 Mr' J6. Harkness said that Ger-man-owned islands would always be a menace to New Zealand. J* v.-ould mean that New Zealand would have to remain a military and naval people, aa access to all parts of the world was by sea, not by road or rail.