SHATTERED WAR AIMS.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 May 1919, Page 7

SHATTERED WAR AIMS.

GERMANY/S AMBITIONS

GREAT COLONIAL EMPIRE,

LONDON, May 2

Routers’ correspondent at Paris reports that Le Journal publishes a

number of authentic and hitherto unpublished documents obtained from the late President Eisner’s private secretary, including a memorandum from Herr Erzbcrger to German State and army leaders in 1914, outlining the German war aims, the object of which is therein outlined as the establishment of Germany’s military domination on the Continent for at least a century.

After the signing of peace the memorandum proposed that Germany should not tolerate on her frontiers any neutral incapable of maintaining its own neutrality, Germany would throw off the unbearable tutelage of Great Britain in world politics, and would shatter control the Belgian coast and the whole of the French coast from Dunkirk to Boulogne, with possession of the Oh anncl Islands. The mines of French Lorraine should be controlled by Germany. Erzbergcr comprehensively < • nod the creation of a German Colonial Empire in Africa. Any pretensions to Morocco would be disclaimed, but Italy would obtain Tunis, Austria would have Egypt, and Germany would annex the Belgian and French Congo, British Nigeria, and the French western coast of Dahomey. Germany’s demands for inch’.unities for war costs should nor be limited to the temporary, financial capacity of a State to make a large payment immediately, as long term loans could bo arranged. Payment by France could be arranged by reducing her

budget and naval and military expenditure. Krzberger submitted that it was necessary in fixing indemnifies to consider the full reimbursement of immediate war costs, which he estimated at £500,000,000, and the payment of all war damage, and the redemption of all German State debts, of which 80 per cent were caused bj colomai and military expenditure and the creation of a large fund for war victims.

Yon Betlimann-Hollweg (the then Chancellor) General von Mol the (Chief of Staff)), and Admiral Tirpiiz (Grand Admiral), replying to the memorandum, made reservations concerning the details, but adhered to the main linos and ideas.

It is? officially stated that the Puparoa. returning with draft 24(1, is expected to reach Wellington about May 21 'l'lio wactcrsidc workers have refused to commence discharging the Northumberland’s cargo until Wednesday morning, owing to eight cases of typhoid fever —six members of the crew ami two soldiers —being on the vessel when she arrived. Some ihventiy nnnaturalisgd aliens were taken from Dargaville last week (stales the local paper) en route to their native country. The statement that, they were forcibly taken is untrue. As a matter of fact, they wore i Mostly elderly married men, families arc not here, and it was by their own request they wished to return to their native land. Fully forty also left Whangarei under the same conditions.