THE REFLECTIONS OF DR. SOLF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 201, 14 May 1918, Page 5

THE REFLECTIONS OF DR. SOLF

GERMANY'S COLONISING METHODS

A MAP THAT WAS ROLLED UP

(By 11. K. AVakcficld.)

(Published by Authority of Iho \Vnr O\"; (ice, per favour of llic lioya! Coloiafii Institute.)

Iu the office of Dr. Solf, the Gorman Colonial Secretin , ,)-, t'nerc onro hung, doubtless, a largo Jiiaii of tho world, on which tho German possessions were blaznnnd big. Tho lortunes of war locl tho doctor at recurrent intervals to draw a thick lino through 0110 of thssn areas, till finally, one day last year ho I excliiimcd to his secretary: "Koll up that: ■map, we shall not xeciuire it for u conniderable period!" llis office had become a sinecure, and time lay heavy on [ liis hands; so now he occupies it with public speaking. Ho outlines for his hearers' satisfaction a splendid now map of \ tho world, still nioro splendidly spotted [I with large German possessions. In fact, tho greater part of Africa is shaded with the Prussian tint. "It has over been the policy of the German Colonial authorities," lie said in his latest utterance, reported in the "Saarbrucker Zeitung," "to oppose with all their might the militarisation ot Africa, which if not checked, must constitute si standing raenaco to the peacu of Europe." Eminent coloninl authorities are evidently not in agreement on this point for Kerr Zimniermann, another "Mittel-Alrica" champion, delivered himself t)f the opinion that "tho consummation of Mittel-Airica would enable Germany to raise an army of a million men and to create an independent war navy. Thcso armaments will dominate tho English communications with South Africa, India, and Australia." Somehow that rings true. . Dr. Solf then went on to Bay: 'A just redistribution oE the colonial possessions of all nations in Africa is urgently required." Mark what "justice" means to tho doctor. "Such a distribution must, be based on tho 'physical strength' of tho States concerned.-" How Germanically just! "When wo turn continued the doctor reflectively, to the entirely too extensive possessions ot I'rance, Portugal, and Belginm, wo shall see that the present distribution of colonies does not respond to these requirements. Therefore our representatives at tho peace table must above all by forceful persuasion" (the world by now has plumbed the depth of that euphemisrr.) f 'iiiduco tho conference to rearrange tho map of Africa in such a way that the main and most valuable' portion of Africa shall fall to Ger-many." That is forceful, but not very persuasive. "It is Germany who, measured according to a power standard, is by fnr more competent to kulturiso the backward portions of the world than France, Portngal, or Belgium, or oven England, whose mission, according to her own ideas, is practically limited to exploitation from a business standpoint." One can almost hear tho "Hochs" which greeted this finale, though possibly the rapid succession of unblushing "non sequiturs" may have jarred on a fit* logical souls. Perhaps "measuring kultnr by a power standpoint" is really tho great curse of the contemporary German mind. Ono wonders if Dr. Solf lias read that picturesque littlo story which tells how, since tho British have occupied German East Africa, the natives havt> taken to living near the roads again, a custom they found perilous under their former rulers,

A Welcome Flag. One does uot like thb doctor, to have fiiich a sordid view ol Britain's colonising metliods, so wo should have liked him to have seen too latest reports on tho condition of tho parta of the Holy Land which tlib Allies have already occupied. Ho would seo that tho disappearance of tho Turk find tho coming of the Allies wore regarded as a miracle of good fortune. "When the English entered into tho city all tho people rejoiced, crying 'Christ is risen!'" He would find that tho population was already beginning io smile again and to forget the past; that the seed, tho grain, and the cuttle provided by tho Allies had already resulted in there being a greater area under cultivation tliuu for many years past; that tho heiidinen of all tho villages were eo-oporaLinj; splendidly with the Allies' administrators, and that crime lias almost disappeared; that a judicial system is being established, and that village schools are being started once more, and, very significant this, thai; the Allies' system., of paying for articles they requisition, hits had an excellent effect; that religious intolerance has so absolutely disappeared that tho notables of one town recently invited the military governor to attend a ceremony in tho mosque itself; that in Jerusalem the Koly Places are guarded by British eoldiers, and that the relations between tho military administration and the ecclesiastical chiefs could not possibly bo more cordial. I'erhiips lie would not believe these things. Well, he would find proof of them in .letters written by German residents in tho Holy City. After all, tho Germans were in actual, if not nominal, control of those regions for a long time. They do not eeem. to liavo got very busy with the kulturization.' It must bo rather depressing for tbo doctor to seo that a comparison of the condition of l'alasline this year and last hardly bears out his thesis that tho peoples of the world are longing for the arrival of the Gentle German to rescue them from tho sordid exploitation of England. Rather .dots it bear out what most impartial observers have stated, that of all the great Powers, the British are the best and Clio Germans tho worst at making subject races .under their charge happy, prosperous, and cure-free.