A THUNDERBOLT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1520, 31 July 1905, Page 2

A THUNDERBOLT.

ADVICE OF THE TIMES TO THE

COLONIES,

HELPLESS MOTHERLAND,

By lelcgrapfli, Press Ass’n, Copyright Received 4.19 p.m., July 30.

London, July 29.

Commenting on Mr Coghlan’s letter explaining tho position in the Marshall Islands, ths Times says : “ Germany’s excuses added insult to injury. They were indisposed to alter the transparency of tho i:lu3ory arrangement until Australians were beginning to hint at retaliation. If a little money were involved tho denial of justioe was all the more inexcusable. “The lesson of tho dispute was plain. Britain was powerless to protoot British commerce with nothing to negotiate with a primitive power except war. “Lord Lansdowno'might havo written despatches till the crack of doom and have never obtained anything but pettyfogging answers. The Australians themselves obtained a proffiise of redross. “It rests with them to eeo that the redress is genuine and adequate. They have something to negotiate and power to retaliate when commercially injurad. “ They are masters of their awn domestic legislation, not tied hand and foot. “ Only the fear that Australia possessed six millions of Germany’s commerce to operate upon brought the German Government to reason. •> Australia can imitate Canada’s example by adopting a preferential tariff, and possesses other ways of making her displeasure felt. “ We only hope she will not now shrink from tho power. “ Germany is in no sense indispensable to the Australians. They are vory useful to Germany. By insisting on the fullest equality of treatment and adequats compensation for past injury, they will do a good thing for themselves and for tho Empire.”