“HANDS OFF PACIFIC.”

Taihape Daily Times, 16 October 1918, Page 2

“HANDS OFF PACIFIC.”

THE GERMAN COIaInIES. NEED FOE BRITISH CONTROL The question of the retention of Samoa and the other German colonies in the Pacific was mentioned to the Prime Minister by an interviewer on Saturday. ‘‘My impression,” remarked Mr. Massey, <f is that if there is a difficulty it will make its appearance at the Peace Conference. New Zealand and Australia, however, will be able to' show that in fighting for the retention of these islands under British control wo are fighting in the best interests of the native races, as well as for the safety and security of the Anglo-. Saxons who have already made their homos in the South Pacific, and the still very much larger number who will make homes there in the future. Our cause is a good and just one, and I believe will be acknowledged and agreed to accordingly.” Discussing the future of the Pacific Islands, Sir Joseph Ward stated on Saturday that in his opinion the progress made by the Allies since the offensive started in July made it more certain than ever that these important outposts would not pass back to the control of the Gormans. This meant, that the people of the Southern Seas would be free from the menace of great strategic posts being -again in the possession of a country which had shown from the commencement of the war a barbaric and unscrupulous desire to dominate the world and place it under the heel of Prussian militarism. Sir Joseph added that he was satisfied the •'Britteh Authorities ure as anxious ns the people in New Zealand were that the islands shall not be allowed to go back to the Gormans. “I have spoken or this question so often for mo.ry years that it is almost unnecessary to state that it is of the greatest importance of the future of the B’ritish Empire that the highway of the Pacific should be freed from enemy occupation, and that these islands should have no other flag than that of Great Britain flying over them,” concluded the Minister.—N.Z. Herald.