THE TERRITORIAL MANDATES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 148, 18 March 1919, Page 5

THE TERRITORIAL MANDATES

IMPORTANT POINTS REVIEWED FUTURE OF PACIFIC ISLANDS JAPANESE DEMANDS By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Paris, March 15. Mr. Keith Murdoch (Australian Press representative) states that an important discussion has begun at tho Peace Conference regarding the Pacific Islands and tho general interprelaton of tho mandatory theory. Three classes of mandates have been prepared, the first governing tho intelligent peoples, for instanco, Arabia; tho second the cannibalistic natives, including East Africa; and the third territories where internecine warfaro prevnils. Tho Australasian mandates for tho South Pacific fall under tho last head. The main points of tho discussion are:

1. Tho wisdom of permitting fortifications in tho South Pacific Islands in view of tho certainty that similar rights will bo strongly claimed for tho Northern Islands,

2. Should Britain insist on the promised clause providing that the territories shall become integral parts, of the mandatory countries whenever the inhabitants choose, or present a petition claiming union? .1. Should Japan be given identical mandates for the Caroline and Marshall Islands ? In view of the strong and clamorous Japanese demand the position is too delicately poised for .comment. New Zealand seems to bo prepared to forgo point one. Mr. Hughes is vigorously pressing point two. Considerable feeling has been aroused' over the violence of his representations. The British delegates believe that, if the right of fortification is given Australasia over Samoa and the Southern Islands the same right must be given Japan. Therefore it seems best in Mr. Lloyd Georgo's, Mr. Balfour's, and Lord Milner's view to accept a general agreement not to fortify. Should/ President Wilson insist on the incorporation of tho league covenant in the peace preliminary, the discussions may come to. a head, hut otherwise the points will not be decided far a considerable time. '. Tho second class of mandate rigidly applies the principle of the open door, and the third the closed door. Will Australia get a mandate for Nauru? This island possesses almost unlimited supplies of phosphates, which are most valuable for Australian and New Zealand agriculture. It will be remembered that Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey presented separate memoranda claiming this mandate. Lord Milner's memorandum puts the strong British view. Lord Milner states that ample supplies of sulphuric acids are necessary for making phosphates into superphosphates, a fertiliser which is growing precious to the British farmers. It is true that an Australian garrison is now on the island, but it is paid from local revenues, supplemented by Imperial funds. He urged that the island should be attached to the British groups administered by a High Commissioner for the Pacific. This course appear:; to be the most likely one, unless Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey can reach a reasonablo agreement, Australia getting the mandate on condition that New Zealand gets stated quantities of phosphates yearly. Mr. Hughes uncompromisingly presented a further memorandum setting out that Australia wrest e<l tho islands from tho enemy, and maintained the garrison throughout tho war. This did not impress delegates, who declare that the wresting of islands froin the enemy consisted merely in landing a whaleuoat, but it is,hoped that. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Massey will agree on joint representation. Tho Australian'mandates will certainly include a provision that German properties bo taken over at their value, added to Germany's reparation fund, and be counted as part of the Australasian share in German reparation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asn.