GERMANS IN AUSTRALIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 17, 21 January 1916, Page 3

GERMANS IN AUSTRALIA.

HERR IRMER’S VIEWS

A REMARKABLE B’OOK

Interesting extracts were read today by the Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce) from a review of a book /recently published in Germany by Herr George 'lnner, formerly ConsulGeneral for Germany in Australia, a few months after the out outbreak of the war, under the title of “The Awakening of the People in the Pacific Ocean.” The book was reviewed in “Der Han Kurier,” of Sept. 30th. The author of the book gives the German colonists in Australia credit for the development of Australian in--1 dustries, in the first rank of which he places the brewing of beer. Many vi.lages which he visited, he declares, contained only one inhabitant who could speak English, and he writes in glowing terms of these German colonists gathering round to greet him as the official representative of the “Old Homeland.” They would send greetings to the Emperor, and after he (Herr Inner) had left them he could hear them singing in the distance the “Deutschland Über Alles.” At the same time the author regrets that some of the Germans in Austrana are becoming Anglicised, even neglect-

t to teach their children the German language. “In 1880,” the writer goes on, ‘‘the German colonial policy commenced and a generation ago the prospects of an extended South Seas policy were 'favourable. No one troubled himself then about the neglected corner of the Pacific Ocan. If Germany had gone to with Spain over the Caroline Islands she would have taken possession of the valuable Philippines, but the old Emperor decided on a peaceful adjustment for the sake of the monarchy. The situation since then has completely changed, and expulsion from the Pacific, which Germany has suffered, is threatening Great Britain also. The Australian colonies have ripened into the Socialistic States of the future, and are working strenuously towards the severance of the last steel link which binds them to the Motherland. It was not on account of England that they rendered military assisance, but because they wanted New Guinea and Samoa.” “That extraordinary statement,’ interjected Senator Pearce, “confirms the German view, previously published, that Germany firmly believed at the beginning of the war that the various Dominions would proclaim their independence. It is not unlikely that the author of the book advised his Government of his opinion.” In conclusion, Herr Irmer declares his ideas in the following terms. —“Injury has made Germany wise. Her future colonial policy will be different from what it has been. We require fresh lands for those for whom their native land has become too restricted —new countries over which the Imperial Eagle will float. Plantations

and trading stations are lost posts; colonial countries can defend themselves. The great organisation of our Colonial Office, which still remains, is in truth symbolical, for the quiet in this office is only the deep breathing before renewed exertions, and after the victory wc will bind the helmet cn tighter.”