A RAKING REPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 289, 26 August 1918, Page 6

A RAKING REPLY

LORD ROBERT CECIL AND DR. SOLF

GERMANY MUST BE PUNISHED

IN THE FIELD

NO MORE COLONIAL

MISRULE

(Reo. August 25, 5.5 p.m.)

London, August 23.

y Lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary •t for Foreign Affairs), in. a statement in s reply to Dr. Self's speech, says: "Dr. d Self's romarkable utterances represent '■ a considerable change, and are mainly i- directed to America's opinion. It re--0 fleets the trend of German opinion. Dr. |V Solf has begun to realise that the PanGerman doctrine is disastrous, and re- '" i'ors to such principles as being held '" only by a small group without political '" or governmental influence. He claims * that the Government has strongly com- '■ i' bated them. Nevertheless," Lord .• j Cecil adds, 'The Pan-German or Jun- • I ker section have great influence in ' Germany. Only a few weeks ago they t exhibited their power by securing von ■ Kuhlmann's dismissal, because of his visw that there was no likelihood of Germany's being able to secure a military decision in her favour. The Belgium Shuffle. "Dr. Soil's statement regarding Belgium undoubtedly represents a step towards decency. Ho says that Belgium would not be any nation's vassal, but Count von Hertling (Chancellor) - recently said the samo thing, with serious qualifications, notably that there ) must be a close commercial connection 1 with Germany. Hence, Dr. Solf's i statement is oxtremely uusatisfac- ■ tory, especially as he (Dr. Solf) ■ reminded his hearers of Count E von Hertling's promise*?. If ' Dr. Solf wishes to indicate Germany's ■ willingness to liberate and restore Belgium, let him say so plainly. Dr. Solf's assertion that Germany, by the BrestLitovsk treaty, has inaugurated a number of small States, which Germany, at their request, will protect temporarily, , shows a change in the p»p!« of Ger- . many, who have hitherto regarded the . Brest-Litovsk Treaty as their iirst fruits of victory. Ccrmany's Colonial Misrule. "Dr. Solf vaguely claims that the German colonies shall revert to Germany. He particularly reprehends the suggestion that Germany has not, given j a good account of her stewardship >of i tho coloured races. I believe that j Germany's treatment of the coloured I peoples has been brutal and repugnant. The Government intends soon to publish a record of Germany's colonial misrule. When Mr. Balfour said: 'Tho colonies won't be restored,' he reflected the consensus of tho opinion of tho world acquainted with Gormany's colonial record. Dr. Solf is wrong in saying that we claimed the right to annex them. Mr. Balfour said that their fate would be decided at tho Peaco Conference. What Mr. Balfour ruled out was the. suggestion that they should bo returned to Germany. Huns Must Learn Through Defeat. ''Dr. Soil's reference to war's carnage, ovils, and miseries, is only too truo, but it represents an entire change in German feeling even sinco last April, when von Hindenburg's extravaI gant war aims were in. the ascendant. Dr. Solf claims to bo an upholder of tho League of Nations. I tell Dr. Solf that it would bo criminal not to achieve an international system which is better than tho present system, but we can see no hope of that unless tho Entente Powers aro victorious, and Germany acknowledges that her whole system is a profound error." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable- Assn. MR. MASSEY REPLIES TO DR. SOLF London, August 22. M : r. AY. F. Massey, in an interview regarding Dr. Solf's speech, said: "It may bo taken for granted that Dr. Solf speaks for the German Government. The mind of Germany now talks'peaco by negotiation, because it has found that the policy of the Mailed Fist is doomed to failure; hut ;ifter the Germans' treatment of Belgium the civilised world will never again take Germany's word or bond. She is a criminal among nations, and will, we hope, be compelled to appear at tho bar of national justice in the not distant failure and accept punishment for her misdeeds. Dr. Solf protends that Germany has not pursued an aggressive policy in Africa or the Pacific, and that her future colonial possessions should correspond with her merits as shown to coloured races under her care. I am able to say that the na.tivo races in tho Pacific hate and detest her, whereas they have shown practical sympathy with Britain and Britain's Allies. I have not heard of any native in Germany's late colonies who wanted to fight for Germany. As regards the Anglo-Saxons in tho Pacific, we have not forgotten the vessels sunk and our fellow-citizens drowned on our coasts. Wβ know tho possibilities if the Germans are allowed to establish wireless stations and headquarters of submarine and aircraft fleets. We have pxporiencccl Gsrinnny's. peaceful penetration ami her methods of waging war. We do not want either. Until Germany atones for hnr offences, against God and man, and gives security for hotter behaviour in the future —until then Germany should not be allowed to rank us a civilised nation."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SIR ROBERT BORDEN'S VIEW (Kce. August 25, 11 p.m.) Ottawa, August 24. Sir Robert Bordeu, interviewed on his return from tlio Imperial Conference, said that the future of the world's peace depended on the co-operation of the United States and Britain. Together they could ensure equality and opportunity for the smaller nationalities and backward races, thus giving much hopo for the future of the League of Nations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FOR DEMOCRACY, BUT NOT THE BOLSHEVIK BRAND (Rec. August 25, 11 p.m.) . Washington, August 24. Senator Lodge, speaking before the. Foreign Relations Committee, said that Constantinople must be made- a free port. Palestine would never be restored to the Turks. No peaco discussion with Germany could bo possible until she had been beaten. Peaco must be dictated by the Allies. German propaganda, was poisonous and insidious and must bo resisted. Tlio world must bo made safe for thedemocracy, but not tho kind of democracy that was now. tyrannising over Russia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.