LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 2

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

UNION BRANCH. DISCUSSION ON COLONIES. At a public meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the League of Nations Union fpur speakers, representing local youth groups, dealt with the important subject of the demand for colonies. Mr S. G. Laurenson, speaking for France, gave a brief summary ot the French colonial policy and the resulting conflict in colonial .expansion during the last 100 years. He pointed out that the Frenchman has not the same interest in the overseas empire as the Englishman; liis home affairs are the focal point of his attention. At the same time, in periods of crisis, prestige is one of the strong characteristics as can be seen by M. Poincare's statement: “France is not a country of 40 million, she is a nation of 100 million people.” Unlike the dissatisfied Powers, immigration is not the strong point in France’s claim to colonies; although she is self supporting in most essential raw’ materials, she is none the less dependent on colonial imports. In conclusion, Mr Laurenson gave personal impressions which centred round the Christian ideal. Mr J. A. Thompson followed with a plain statement of the Italian position. The three main points oil which Italy based her claims were: Emigration, prestige coupled with the strategic importance of possessions, and access to raw materials and export of manufactured gpods to open markets. Although prestige ranked a 6 the most important exciting factor, it was not one of material benefit, to the people. However, both the injustices of the Paris Treaty and the conflicting interests in the Mediterranean had a marked effect upon the Italian people’s thinking. The speaker maintained that, on the question of raw material, Italy had a just claim. She was completely dependent on outside sources for coal, petroleum, rubber and cotton, and was very poor in iron, wool and certain vegetable oils. The figures presented in connection with colonial production indicated that Italy was almost completely excluded. In conclusion Mr Thompson expressed the opinion that Imperial expansion was a menace to world peace and that a re-shuffle would never solve the problem, and advocated an open-door policy by the extension of the mandate system. Miss F. Ross put up the case for Germany. A summary was given of the indignities to which Germany bad been subiect since the Treaty of Versailles. The German people, proud of their heritage and renowned for their culture and industry, could not help but feel these insults. It was not so much a matter of raw materials, though these were vital to German prosperity, but rather of prestige, a demand for “a place in the sun. Miss Ross contended that it was greatly due to the Allied policy of bitter suppression that the Nazi regime became possible, and that as soon as Germany was given \her rightful place as a world Power the people would shake off the shackles of " a dictatorship, claiming their light to internal freedom also. Figures were presented to support the cry for access to raw materials, and it was contended that the Allied Powers had lowered the standard of living by tho policy of demanding huge reparations and refusing German trade. The final speaker, Mr R. Ayrton, speaking from the British viewpoint, examined the mandate system and suggested that, though tentative and incomplete, it was ri decided improvement on the unbridled Imperialism of pre-War days. As the mandate system was fundamentally sound, it was reasonable that all' non-self-governing colonies in the Pacific and Africa should come under this system with its rule of the “open door,” the prohibition of preferential tariffs, and system of supervision which now exists in mandated areas. “Peace can no longer be regarded as a lofty idea], it is the condition of our survival, and that nation which holds the largest sway over alien peoples will be called upon to lead the way in magnanimous surrender for the common good. The best contribution this generation can make to the peace of the world is by stronger support of tho League principles,” Mr Ayrton added. After an open discussion votes of thanks and appreciation wore extended to the speakers and the chairman, Mr John Murray.