THE GERMAN COLONIES.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 January 1918, Page 4

THE GERMAN COLONIES.

INTEREST OF DOMINIONS.

London, January 8

Lord Sydenham, formerly Governor of Victoria, says, in the course of an

article in the Daily Graphic: colonics cannot be returned to Germany. Australia and New Zealand feared German incursions in the South Pacific, and 'Australia endeavoured to forestall the German occupation of the non-Dutch portion oi New Guinea. The apathy of the. Home Government caused Australia's wishes to be only partially accomplished* As the German Navy increased it became evident that her naval bases la the south-east endangered Australia's security. When the Peace Confer-

'Her

ence assembles it must "Be' made clear that the claims of humanity and tb.e progress of civilisation debar any further application of the tyrannous German methods to native races in any part of the world. We are fighting as an Empire, but without Imperialistic aims_ The fate of the German colonies will rest, as Mr Lloyd George pointed out, upon the Peace Conference, which must secure jusT and kindly treatment for their populations. "The views of the Dominions, whose whole future interests are deeply 'involved, must receive the fullest consideration. Germany will be disappointed in the expectation that peace will restore her colonies. The Empire Government which the Peace Conference shall decree to be created must prevent exploitation, and guarantee the onward and upward progress of the various tribes. The idea of the Labour Conferences of a superI national Government, in which trierepresentatives of half-a-dozen Powers will participate, is impracticable. It would lead to endless friction. TheGovernments must be on the lines of British rule in India, which, judged by the wonderful progress of the most heterogeneous and mutually antagonistic peoples in the world, is the greatest achievement of British genius."