The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1918. THE ALLIES AND THE GERMAN COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 272, 6 August 1918, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1918. THE ALLIES AND THE GERMAN COLONIES

A CABLEGRAM fi'OlTl Mr. MaSSEV which was received by the Farmers' Union Conference last week makes it very plain that wo cannot yet afford to take anything for granted ui regard to the disposal of Germany s former colonics. Answering representations in which the conference urged that Samoa and other island colonies should bo retained after the war, the Prime Minister stated that in his opinion there need bo no anxiety -so far as the British Government was concerned, though there might be difficulty at the Peace Conference. This is good news as far as it goes. Mr. Massey hardly have expressed confidence in the policy of the British Government with regard to the enemy colonies had lie not been satisfied that it has taken a better and more practical hold of the great questions involved than was apparent in January last, when Mr. Lloyd George made a formal statement of war aims. The British Prime Minister declared on that occasion in reference to the German colonies that they were held at the disposal of the Peace Conference, whose decision must have primary regard for tho wishes and interests of the native inhabitants." . advanced the furtjiov contention -since, warmly criticised by many aT™ an ! ?'<i»>ate knowledge of the African colonies formerly under German '•j-ulc—that the tribal organisation of these native inhabitants sufficiently developed to make -nc general principle of national self-determination as applicable in their case as in that of the people of occupied European territories. The glaring defect of this declaration of, policy, though not its only defect, was that it took much too narrow and limited a view of the problem raised. It is agreed all over tho Empire that the interests and welfare of the natives of the African and Pacific territories formerly under German rule arc sacred and that all possible provision must be made to protect and safeguard the future of these races. But it is equally essential to a sound peace that Germany should be given no renewed opportunity of developing colonial possessions as strategic bases with a view to future attack upon any or all of the Powers who aim at establishing permanent peace in the world. , These two stipulations are not in any respect in conflict. On the contrary, they are in the fullest sense complementary and interdependent. It is obyiouis that the interests of the native inhabitants of the former German colonies will not be adequately safeguarded if Germany is re-establish-ed in control, with full freedom to use her black and brown subjects as cannon-fodder in furtherance of new schemes of conquest. The brief message from Mr. Massey which we have quoted suggests ■ that the British Government has been converted to this common-sense view. It stops short of an explicit assurance 011 tho point, but if Mr. Massey is able to regard the attitude of the British Government towards tho

German colonics without anxiety he presumably considers that Me. Lloyd George <i n d his colleagues (ire now as definitely opposed to the restoration of these territories as aro the people of the British Dominions. If this is so a great deal has been gained, for there is 110 doubt that many people in Great Britain, political leaders included, were slow to envisage aspects of this question of the German colonies which in the British Dominions have long been regarded as equally obvious and vital. But while Mr. Massey's message is to this extent of hopeful import, his reference to the Peace Conference is in a distinctly different •category. It has been said often and quite truly that the final disposal of tho German colonies is a matter for the Peace Conference, but for practical purposes this means that the fate of these territories will depend upon the terms the Allies aro determined and able to cnforcc at the end of the war. It is plain enough that if the Allies entered the Peace Conference with vaguely-drawn proposajs relating to the German colonies, or (0 any big issue of the war, they would lie playing directly into the hands of tlw enemy Powers. The Allies cannot obtain such a peacc as they desire otherwise than by laying down terms which they consider just and equitable and compelling Germany,

! her vassals to accept them. It I is scarcely in doubt that when Mr. j Masse v says that there may be difficulty at the Peace Conference in regard to the disposal of the German colonies he is thinking less of Germany's unwillingness to part with those territories than of the fact that tho Allies have not yet reached such an agreement amongst themselves as would enable them to lay concrete demands on the subject before tho enemy at the Peace Conference. The practical issues raised are very clearly outlined in n recent article in United Empire Institute" 3,1 ° f th ° R °' Val C ° lollia ' In tho ordinary acceptance of (lw. wowhi (it observer) a peace conference conjures up (he r .ieture of victors ™d languished mcctn.g together to ««reo <t]ioii the (onus on which war is ( 0 ° bo bronchi, to n. conclusion; and we may fti /hT'ir' U ' at - iu lho m spile bt the promise given that tliev we )<> be consulted in regard to peace conditions, .some fear prevails lest; Iho terms imposed should omit some point «luc!i one or other of the Dominions inuy regard as essential. Such a view of the end ot t in war, it is l„ be hoped, will I'loio altogether erroneous. There should Lie 110 occasion for a conference at which Germany anl Austria, may contrive to modify tl.o Allies' conditions of ponce, these can, '.ftul should, ho drafted in agicement, by the Allies, to lie accepted 'oy tliQ enemy as an acknowledgment of dele/l o.iul as marking the end of the Wiir. It will then remain for the details of tho world settlement lo be tilled in and ratified at a congress, at which the Central Alliance will lie represented, it l>y.that time the two countries lnive UoveniiW'iils with which the Allies, in accordance with President Wilson's (stipulation, can negotiate with njiv rontidcnce. The real business of the settlement, tlic part, with which tile Dominions are concerned, should bo concluded by agreement; among tho Allies liefore peace is offered to the Central Powers. It would ho better for the Dominion Governments to make suro of a hearing betimes than to ba-'o. expectations on tho filling in of details at a wor'id congress.

Since these words were written the Dominions have made tome definite progress. They have received an as•suranco from the British Government .that oversea delegates will attend the Peace Conference, and Mn. Massey's cabled statement suggests, as we have said, that the British Government now accepts the view that the German colonies must *>n no account be restored. But tho main point made is that preliminary agreement between the Allies in regard to any terms to be imposed on the enemy at tbo end of tho war is absolutely essential, and this contention is in no way weakened, even if we assume that tho most complete and perfect, understanding has been reached by Britain and her Dominions. Failing an agreement between the Allies in regard to the German colonies, even that direct representation tlie Do- | minions are now promised at the ' Peace Conference would be a poor guarantee of such a disposal of ' these territories as they desire. 1/ the British Government and the Governments of the Dominions take every opportunity of giving this great question the prominence it deserves; it should not be impossible to bring the Allies into the same agreement wherp the Gorman colonics aro concerned as in regard to questions of European sovereignty. The most hopeful factor bearing on the matter is the rapid broadening of tho outlook of the United States and the growing perception of its leaders and thinkers that bold action is demanded if peace is* to be securely re-established in the world. It does not seem too much to hope that the American Government may be brought to realise that the restoration of the German colonics would be at once unjust to their native inhabitants and opposed to the future preservation of world peace. Meantime wc cannot but recognise that complete agreement on the subject with Britain is only one of a number of steps that must be taken before the Peace Conference assembles if Prussian militarism is to be suppressed in colonial areas as well as in Europe.