MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

GERMAN COLONIAL AIMS. CRIPPLING THE BRITISH EMPIRE. WHY THE COLONIES SHOULD NQT BE RETURNED. ' Reuter Service. Received Jan. 30, 0.15 p.m. London, Jan. 2fl. General Smuts, lecturing before the Royal Geographical Society, described the East Africa campaign. Jt was clear that the Germans had decided to develop the country, not as an ordinary colony, but as a tropical possession for the cultivation of raw materials. They systematically discouraged white colonisation. Harsh ns the German system was lie was not prepared to deny that it was perhaps the most scientific, and, in the long run, the most profitable form of exploiting the tremendous natural resources of the tropics. German colonial aims were entirely dominated by their far-reaching conception of world politics. Germany's ultimate object in Africa was the establishing of a great Central African Empire, including English, French, Belgian and Portuguese possessions. She was now claiming the return of the colonies in order to resume thmarch towards this objective. She aimed at securing recruiting grounds, and raising vast native armies and naval and submarine bases in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, dominating both ocp«n routes, and bringing Aiiglo-Amerieaii sea power to nought. The native armies would be -useful in the next great war, whereto the German general staff were already giving serious attention. The untrained levies of the Union of South Africa would go down before these Ger-man-trained hordes, who also would be able to deal with North Africa and Egypt, without, the deflection of any white troops from Germany. It would also mean a great army planted on the flank of Asia, whose force could bo felt throughout the middle east, as far as Persia, and even further. The British Empire could not allow the militarisation of natives or liaval submarine bases employed for schemes of world power. The conquered German colonies could only be regarded as guarantees for the future peace of the world. He was sure this opinion was shared by the va:t bulk of the Dominions, who were largely responsible for the destruction of the German colonial empire, and the consequent prevention of the German military system spreading to the ends of the earth. They should not be-asked to consent to the restoration to militant Germany of fresh footholds for militarism in the Southern Hemisphere, endan-! gering the future of their rising com- i munities. They wanted a new Monroe, doctrine for the south, for. protection Against European militarism. StllJ GERMANY'S L^RROWINGS, j COMPARED WITH BRITAIN'S. SNORMOtJS INCRTIASE OP PAPER MONEY. •Received Jan. 31, 12.50 a.m. London, Jan.. 30. Sir Edward Holdcn (a banker) saya that Germany's total borrowing amounts to £5,100,000,000, as against Britain's .€4,900,000,000. Germany's issue of paper monev before the war was £144,000,000,' but is now £984,000,000. ANTI-FOOD HOARDING CAMPAIGN. London, Jan. 29. A vigorous campaign against food hoarding has 'Uegun, especially in London. Local food committees are receiving much confidential information. It is understood that eome hundreds of summonses will tie issued early. WHAT WE FIGHT FOR. US/Ob GEORGE ANSWERS QUESTIONS. Renter's Telegrams. London, Jan. 20. After the speech of Mr. Lloyd George to the trades unionists at Westminster Hill a number of frank questions and answers followed. Mr. Lloyd George had said that if the pacifists offered terms the cheque would not be cashed by Ludendorff or the Kaiser. A delegate asked:— You say that Ludendorff won't cash the peace cheque. Cannot we reasonably expect S&eidemann and Liebknecht to cash it? Mr. Lloyd George: Liebknecht is in gaol, and Schiedemann would find himself in the same place" if he attempted to cash your cheque. The German Socialists must first impose their terms on their Government. f A delegates Will Mr Lloyd George, u

order to prove the sincerity of our claim that we are fighting for aemocracv, give an assurance that wealthy will be conscripted and maximum incomes instituted?

Mr. Lloyd George: I suppose that would also apply to the workshops? (Hear, hear). If there is going to be equality it must be applied to all elates and sections In no country has wealth been more heavily taxed for the war than here, not excepting Germany, and i don't say we have come to the end of the path in that direction. A delegate: Will Mr. Lloyd George give an assurance that the whole of the British armament production will be nationalised and profiteering in enwines of war cesFC?

Mr. Lloyd George: Speaking for myself, I have entire sympathy for that proposition. A delegate: Does Germany really know the British and American war aims hs recently stated by Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson?

Mr. Lloyd Cc-rge: TVe hive previously f":mrf the iji'rman Govi-rmi'ent deliberately altering reports of speeches. In President Wilson's speeches they not merely ■iiuitie-. whole passage? bw actually altered words, conveying a totally different impression to the people of Germany. It is possible that Dr. Wilson's and mv speeches have not reached the people of Germany, in the first instances, in the form in which they were delivered, but I should be surprised if by tiiis time the people of Germany do not lcnow the actu.il terms of these speech s LASIOR CONFERENCE DANGEROUS Regarding the holding, of an International Labor Conference on piacs terms Mr. Lloyd George said: It would b? a dangirous experiment. You must remember that you cannot confine such ci-nfi-rences to one section If you al'ow Laborites to confer you must allow financiers and employers to confer. Tims jvu would have section discussions which would rot represent the nation as a whole It ">ould end in conf'tsion. A Delegate: Are we getting the British proposals put before the German Government? Mr. Lloyd George: We naturally, are constantly watching whether there are any indications of returning reason in the German Government. I am sorry we can find nothing, but complete hardness and a resolute determination to achieve a complete military triumph. A delegate: Will Mr. Lloyd George promise that compulsory military servce will be withdrawn aa soon as a peace settlement is rtached on the Allied terms ?

Mr. Lloyd George: That is really what we are fighting for. We want to make s::ch a war impossible again. It is not a question of stopping it in this country. You must stop it in every country, otherwise you cannot stop it here. ,