THE GERMAN COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 239, 27 June 1918, Page 6

THE GERMAN COLONIES

Sir,—Your editorial to-day on the German colonies, I gather, approves the de- ; termination of Britain aim her Allies that Germany must withdraw within her ; pre-war , boundaries. Accepting that determination, you insist that Germany's exclusion from the Pacific must bo permanent, and say that your view is upheld by the great majority of thinking people. You contend that your attitude "is fully consistent with tho Allies' desire to create conditions in which war rill be impossible." In many cases an editor has such large sources of information to draw on that we accept with relief his summary of a question we have not managed to study. But in cases where some study has beta given to a question, I think it is reasonable to ask'to be allowed to restate an alternative uew when a paper reiterates an opinion which seems to somo of its readers a misleading one. I submit that to insist on Ger-1 many giving up all conquered territory, and at tho same time giving up her colonial possessions, is to encourage the war spirit and endanger, future peace more surely than if, having been forced to retire from conquered territory, Germany is allowed to return to the control of her Pacific >. colonies—return under international law laid down and upheklx by Britain and her Allies and such others as join the league, a group which overwhelmingly dominates the Pacific. The more Now Zealand knows of President Wilson the more it respects him, and I contend that my views on this question aro in accord with his public statements more than your editorial is. You propose the old way of settlement. AVilson proposes a new out*. And for future security it is of immense importance that the .'English-speaking peoples-work on parallel lines.—l am, etc., WILL. B. MATHESON. June 21.