Germany's Colonial Claims

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 7

Germany's Colonial Claims

"AGUE."

Sir, — In spite of all that has been published in the Herald-Tribune and other papers on the subject of Germauy's former colonies and her claim for their return, there is reason to tliinlc many people kave not yet graspCd the elcmentary facts of the case. ThCy still sesm to believe it to be vitally necessary for Germany's welfare that these shoiuld be restored to her asi sources of raw material and suitabie • places for her surplus population. The figures given below, relating to thesa two problems( are takqn frninv authoritati've sources and can be felied upon as correct. As soui-ces of raW material; Germhny, when- possessed Of these colonies, drew only one'baif pOr cent. oi her imports from them, and settlefl' chly 10,000- of her people there as against 490,000 in di&'efent parts of the British Enipire. At present she is as free-to btty there as whfen they were her own, on just the same tertns as w0 or any other nation are. England is Germany's best customer. Last year Germany sold her goods to the value of £32.000,000 and bought from England only £2.1)000,000 worth. ! The British Enipire as a Whole bought j £54,000,000 Worth of German productS, | against £42., 000, 000 worth boOght by her. When Germany complains ao ttudly about the injustice of taking these colonies from her and refusing to return them, it is pertinent to aski Had we not far better right to take these from her and keep them than ever she had to annex the fertile provinees of Schleswig-Holstein and Lowenberg from Denmark in 1864, and those of AlsaceLorraine from France in 187 1? Would she under any ciroumstances have con- , sidered their return to tlieir rightful owners, no matter how insistently * domanded? If' Germany feels she must have colonies why does she not endeavour to purchase part of the Belgiatt Or French Congo at a fait pficef This would be infinitely cheaper tlian Rilmg up ariiiaments or going to War to regain her former po'ssessions. There is good precedent for such purehases. England paid the Netherlands £6,000,000 for Cape Colony and other Dutch, territories, and America paid Napoleon £1.000.000 for Louisiana.— Yonrs, etc.,

Waipawa, Dec. 10, 1937.