IN THE PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 6

IN THE PACIFIC

I GERMANY DEMANDS COLONIES. 111!. AIASSEV 'SAYS TilK GENTLE 5 i;lot;man is not wanted. ? Kefvrriu;; on Wednesday to the llainJlnirg Eremdciiblatt's statement IhatGerImiiiiy must not surrender her island possessions in the l'acific, tfoe Prime Minjistei (the Kight Hon. W. F. Massey), stated to a Times representative:— I "The Hamburg paper has said what I have no doubt , many Germans are ■thinking. The leaders of German thought 'know the strategic and productive value |of the. Pacific Islands formerly in their 'possession, anil v.'e cannot expect the latter to be given up easily. Japan maybe trusted to hold the islands she now occupies. What we have to think of are the islands south of the Equator, in which Australia and Now Zealand are particularly and intensely interested. At a time lite this we do not want to worry the Imperial Government unnecessarily, but, remembering the past history of British administration in the Pacific, and the mistakes that were made we should be wanting in our duty if we did not endeavor to impress British Minsters witli the increasing importance of these islands, and, profiting by the lesions of the war, the necessity of keeping the German out of the Pacific.

"The representatives of New Zealand at the Imperial War Cabinet lost no opportunities in this respect, and 1 have the best of reasons for believing that the present Secretary of State for the Colonies understands and looks at the position from our point of view. But the danger will be at the Peace Conference. when it comes and the terms of peace are being arranged. We cannot expect people on the other side of the world, even British citizens, however Imperialistic they may 'be, to see the importance ol' these islands as we see it. The Eremdenblatt is perfectly candid. It says: 'The Germans want to establish naval bases and coaling stations in these seas, so as to defy Australian and New Zealand ambitions, check Japan, and threaten the western shores of North and South America.' Just so—a truly comprehensive programme. Thanks to the Fremdenblatt we know exactly what we are up against. We have hail some experience of the gentle German in the Pacific; we don't want him any more, and we are justified in making our voice' ■toea-rd accordingly. The I'remdenblatt stated' that Germany must not surrender her island possessions in the Pacific, because if used as naval bases and coaling stations they would enable Germany to defy Australian and New Zealand ambitions, check Japan, and threaten the western shores of North and South America. They \v6ukl also supply enormous quantities of' valuable raw materials. At the conclusion of the Peace Conference it would be found that Germany's South Sea possessions had considerably increased. It must be so.