GERMANY'S LOST COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 7

GERMANY'S LOST COLONIES

SPEECH BY DR. SOLF

A VITAL QUESTION

Amsterdam, August 21. The German Colonial Secretary (Dr. I Solf), addressing the German Society, re-' ferred to Mr. Balfour's recent speech in . the Houso of Commons. After denying that Germany did not intend to restore Belgium as an independent State, Dr. Solf said that the consciousness was spreading ill the German working (Musses j that the retention of the colonies was » vital question for Germany's honour. Ho denied that Britain could govern the colonies l>etter than Germany, and proceeded to claim that Germany is the only Power which has adopted the demilitarisation of Africa as one of its war amis. Neither in the Pacific nor in Africa did Germany wish to pursue an aggressive policy. '"We desire," he said, "a compromise in regard to colonial questions, on the basis that colonial possessions shall correspond to the enonomic strength of the European nations and to tho merits which they have shown in the matter rf protection'of the colonial races entrusted to their care. States which endeavoured before the war, to respect the humanity of tho coloured races have won a moral right to be: colonial Powers. This right Germany won before the war. Dr. Solf concluded by urging the society to endeavour to cultivate more confidenco in Germany. All belligerent countries should bo awakened to the realisation of their common tasks—the prevention <■. future wars, ensuring the efficacy of- international agreements, the safety of noncom.batants, the sparing of neutral States in future wars, and the protection of national minorities.—Renter. anotherTeport New York, August 22. 0 The United Press correspondent at Amsterdam also reports the Colonial Secretary's speech. Dr. Solf said that if they believed the tono of Mr. Balfour's speech represented what would ultimately predominate, England would urge war to tho death, but lie was convinced that the better feelings of the peoplo would revolt against such an intolerant spirit. German's colonial policy in 1 Africa and the Pacific was not aggressive. Colonial possessions should bear their' proper relation (o the economic position of the European nations, and (lie manner they protected tho coloured peoples in the past. Referring to the Bre.st-Litovsk negotiations, ho said they were undertaken with the agreement of Russia.' Germany felt bound during til?, transition period to protect the border- peoples; but recognised the principle of self-determin-'ition when the lime was ripe and the peoplo ready lo assumo control.—Aus.-N.7i. Cable Assn. [Mr. Balfour, replying to the pacifists in the House of Commons on August 7, said that tho true obstacle to was that the education of the Germans unitedly upheld tho gross and immoral heresy that a policy of universal domination was the true'policy for any nation which wished to be great. The heresy originated from the facilo war successes of Germany, and tho way to eradicate it was to show Germany war did not always lead to successes. Germany visibly practised these abominable doctrines. No German statesman had over unambiguously declared his intention of restoring Belgium and ranking reparation to Belgium, which even the most extreme pacifist in the House of Commons were determined should bo done.]