GERMANY'S COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 111, 4 February 1919, Page 5

GERMANY'S COLONIES

THE MANDATE SYSTEM AUSTRALIA'S OPPOSITION i FORMULA SUGGESTED BY MR. HUGHES i ■ By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Paris, January 31. Mr. Keith Murdoch writes:—As the council reached the final phase of the colonial discussion, it required obstinate argument, and finally President Wilson said to Mr. Hughes: "Is that the maximum Australia is prepared to concede?" "Absolutely," replied Mr. Hughes; "and it is conditional upon Australia receiving the mandate, and upon consent from Australia." This was- more than a mere gesture of dissent. It means that the Commonwealth remains in the strongest possible ■ position, as her consent is reserved until it is absolutely certain she receives the mandate wider these terms. The importance of the concession is great, because the "White Australia;" defence, arid navigation laws of the Commonwealth will apply. The formula was Mr. Hughes's suggestion, and had at first to be fought through the Imperial Cabinet, where Mr. Hughes, Mr. Massey, and General Botha all registered formal protests against the British acceptance of the mandatory system. Tho discussion produced the formula as the minimum acceptable, under protest by General Botha, Mr. Massey, and Mr. Hughes. The formula was wrapped in a lengthy resolution of ten clauses, of 'which 'the eighth was. the vital provision, The resolution also accepted conditions previously mentioned in general, terms by President Wilson, these, being the- prohibition of slave trade, of the 0 sale of liquor to natives, and of military training of natives, except as police, and it also made reservation regarding the amount of defensive works, permissible. The delegates do not regard the provisional settlement as absolutely final, because'an essential part of President Wilson's plan is that the League of Nations must be the body to issue and define th» mandate.-;; but the council accepted tho formula, and tho authoritative British statement leaves no doubt that Australia, New Zealand, and South- Africa will get mandates on the "closed- door" basis. The statement regards the mandatory .system as an) extension of/ British colonial methods, and claims that it benefit? the Empire, because foreign and colonial Administrations have-previously handicapped British traders.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.