THE GERMAN COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 7

THE GERMAN COLONIES

ADOPTION OF MANDATORY SYSTEM TO BE PROPOSED REPORTED ACCEPTANCE BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE By Telegraph—Presß Association-Copyright ' * London,' January 29. The "Morning Post's". Paris correspondent says it is highly {>robablo that'at tomorrow's' Conference' it will be proposed that the mandatory system shall apply to the-colonies and other occupied territory outside 1 Europe; and also that tho delimitation of the Powers shall, bo dolined by tho League of Nations,—Aus.N.Z.. Cable Assn. Paris, January 30.. The British and French Governments have accepted President Wilson's scheme for the' mandatory control of the German colonies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE LEAGUE'S SUPERVISION. '■ . Paris, January 30. . It is expected that the Conference will decide the colonies' question to-day, and will .hand 'over the territories to the. nations claiming them,, .subject to super-vision-by the league —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - • ' . A SHADOWY SUZERAINTY UNWORKABLE. & Ottawa, January 30. The Canadian Press criticises President Wilson's policy, and protests that it contains too much idealism. History shows that a shadowy suzerainty is unworkable. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. MASSEY AND ME. HUGHES WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS. London, January 30. Mr, Massey and Mr. Hughes were interviewed, feut refused to! answer questions as to the disposition of the colonies under . President Wilson' 6 plan,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SATISFACTORY PROVISIONAL ARRANGEMENTS'REACHED. (Rec. Fes'uary ], 0.45 a.m.) Vancouver, January 30. The Supreme Council has announced that it has reached satisfactory provisional arrangements regarding the German. colonies, also the' occupied territories in Turkey and in Asia.—Reuter. INTERNATIONAL CONTROL REGARDED AS DOOMED TO-FAIL-URE. (Rec. January 31, 7.40 p.m.) ■ ' •• Paris, January 30. ■ Mr. A. J. Fraser states that the oversea delegates,believe that PVesident Wilson's linn stand is due to tho fear that Japanese occupation of the islands in the Pacific may cause an outcry in America. President Wilson declares that his fourteen points have been accopted by tho Allies, including the principle of no annexation. President Wilson says:—"lf the. Conference 'tolerates acquisitions we shall renew the evil atmosphere of .the Vienna Congress." Grave difficulties are foreseen in putting the compromise into operation, seeing that the conquered, may theoretically be annexed subject to the will of the League of Nations. The question therefore arises, Who will pay the Government for development of'the conquered area? Another, question is whether the mandatory Powers will be allowed to exclude such people as it wishes. French, Italian,- and British overseas opinion concurs in regarding international control as doomed to failure. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANNEXATION -IN FACT, IF NOT IN ■ < " -THEORY.' ' (Rec. January 3], 9.35 p.m.) ' London, January 30. Mr. A.-' J.'.Eraser, writing in the "Daily Mail," asserts that the British Cabinet has-accepted President Wilson's plan for choosing a Power contiguous'to conquered territory, to govern it, safeguarded by the League ol' Nations. The British inga'rd this as annexation in fact, if not in-theory. South Africa and Australia have protested 'against acceptance of the plan -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE MANDAMUES POLICY SIR JOSEPH COOK CONSIDERS IT A LEAP IN THE DARK.' . (Rec. January 31, 8.15 p.m.) ' London, January 30. Sir Joseph , Cook is not without hope . that the ultimate results of the ■ 1 Peace Conference will be satisfactory to Australia. . He confesses' that he is not enamoured of the policy, of mandatories in tho.Pacific, but believes that when finality is reached nothing untoward will be decided 60 far as the Pacific/is Concerned. It is difficult to understand the practicability of the mandatories policy anywhere, but particularly in the remote Pacific,''inasmuch as a mandatory Power presumably will, be subject t6 the League of Nations, whose constitution is unkuown, its' powers undefined, and its policy unguessable. Anything short of direct'control will, be for Australia and Britain a leap in the dark— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A . ■ THE PACIFIC ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN TRUSTEESHIP CERTAIN. ' Paris, January 29. At times the Council has frankly become a gathering of politicians, anxious' to find means for pleasing and placating their electoral' masters. President Wil-' ■son insists; that public opinion in America will bitterly rgsent anything savouring of land-grabbing. Mr.Lloyd George equally asserts that' British opinion demands* that the wishes of the dominions shall be met.' The British Cabinet's proposal -means that the dominions 'shall have a full trusteeship over-the apportioned territories. ' There is no question but. New Zealand will-get at least a. trusteeship over Samoa, and Australia one over New • Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIA'S INDISPUTABLE CLAIMS London, January 29. General Maurice states that Australia particularly feels strongly' that undisputed possession is the only .compensation obtainablo for her great war sacrifices, but it is not beyond hope that she will consent to lift the question to a higher plane and recognise that her legitimate aspirations will be met if she is appointed trustee for tho league. Britain is prepared to set a good example regarding the Cameroons and Togoland by giving France the trusteeship. If Australia accepts the. principles of the league and abates her indisputable claims, it will make the difficult problems of European settlement easier of solution. Thoso who are disposed to magnify the obstacles to the realisation of the league are watching the discussions on this subject closely.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WHY AUSTRALIA MAY FIND DECISION: DIFFICULT. (Rec. January 31. 9.15 p.m.) ' i. IN#W York, Jauiiary 29; Mr. Tuohy, tho "New York World's" Paris correspondent, referring, to the German colonies, says that Australia; naturally wants to hold tho captured islands ill tho Pacific, but Australia may find it difficult to decide whether sho would not prefer President' Wilson's scheme for internationnlisation of the islands. if that nlso entails the removal of Japanese control from the Marshalls und the Carolines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. JAPAN AND ALLIES IN PERFECT AGREEMENT. ' Tokio, January 28. The Japaneso Foreign Office announces that there is perfect agreement between Japan' and the Allies regarding tho future of the Pacific Islands.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. . MR. HUGHESioisPOKENNESS- . New York, January 30. The Paris correspondent. of tho "Now York Times" writes:—'"Olio represent,!-, tive at the Peace-. Conference who-is most'

insistent that the British Empire shall annex tho Gorman colonics outright is Mr. W. M. Hughes. He is a frank, 1 outspoken man, who does not hesitate to express his opinions, sometimes to tho embarrassment of . the powers that be in London. Mr. Hughes strongly opposes President Wilson's plan for tho internationalisation of the colonies, but in spite 'of this they havo struck up a warn] personal friendship, and are able to discuss their differences without constraint. Tho President argues that tho internationalisation of the islands would free Australia of tho danger of invasion. The President may not oppose the Australian administration of the- islands." The,correspondent points out that with Australia and New Zealand demanding part of the German inlands, and Japan tho others, President Wilson is placed in a difficult position, and may give way.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN DELEGATES IMPRESSED. London, January 29. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Express" says:—"Though the newspaper 'Humanite' declares that tho British colonial demands are brutal pretensions to which President Wilson Will never agree, it is understood (hat the American delegates were considerably impressed by the statements of .Mr. W. M. Hughes-and General Botha. Possibly several moro sittings will be nccessarv before the question is settled.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIANS IN LONDON APPROVE MR. HUGHES'S FIGHT. (Rec. . January 31, 11.35 p.m.) London, January 29. . Anglo-Australians are following Mr. Hughes's, fight on the question of the Pacific Islands with intense interest, especially soldiers on leave. A crowded meeting of the War Chest Club at Aldwych Theatre passed the following resolution: "That'every Australian soldier approves of Mr. Hughes's determined fight. Australians to a man stand behind Mr. Hughes's claims for the retention of the islauds, which / are essential to our safety and for Germany's payment of a financial indemnity covering Australia's war costs." 1 The attitude,of the leading AngloAustralians, business men, and oliicials, is summed up in an article iji the "Even-, ing Standard," by a well-informed Australian, who says:—"New Guinea is the economic and strategic key which secures hegemony of Australia in the South Pacific. The Commonwealth in this crucial'time must establish her' defensive outposts." The "Standard" says l :—"From every city and bush township in Australia a unanimous sliout has gone up that Australian garrisons must remain in NewGuinea, despite the mere theories of neu-trally-inclined delegates at tho Conference. The New Hebrides remain nn awful example of the curse of internationalism in the Pacific."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ahericansUoTunanimods A COMPROMISE POSSIBLE. Paris, January 29. Mr. A. J. Frascr, representing the Australian and Now Zealand Press Association, writes:—"Th? Peiicb Council was occupied all day in considering questions relating to Poland. The Imperial Cabinet Ministers, with the dominions'_ representatives, discussed colonial questions in the forenoon. Tho dominion Ministers urged energetic action in their interests. • It is believed that tho American delegates are not entirely unanimous in /regard to the internationalisation of tho conquered territories, and possibly a compromise will be reached by which tho territories will bo forthwith hauded over to tho nations interested, with a reservation in favour of giving the League of Nations some voice when the league is an accomplished fact, "French newspapers declare that the British Government will firmly adhere to the principle that the colonics captured by the dominions should come within control of - the dominions concerned. I am unable to confirm this view.from our own representatives; but otheV information strengthens tho view that America has weakened on her previous attitude. The Council'will resume colonial discussion to-morrow."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FRENCH VIEW . Lohdon, January 2£l.' Mr. A. J: Fraser states:—"lt is reported that the French view ill regard to territorial acquisitions is that France should havo the Cameroons and Togoland, and should have perfect liberty of action in Morocco, after purchasing Spanish interests there for a thousand million francs.. The French agree that Australia'should hove New Guinea, and that Belgium should have Tobora and the western region of Victoria Nyanza, and part of the western zone on tho left bank of the. Congo, making certain compensations to Portugal. Up to the present the Great Powers have only sent two representatives tr each of the virions coi.i missions, instead of the fivo agreed upon last Saturday,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.