GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1918, Page 4

GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

In the course of his address at New Plymouth on Sunday afternoon the Rev. J. W. Burton, whom all Taranaki folk are delighted to see again, and for whom they have the greatest respect, made a statement whicli we feel obliged to challenge. It was: "If Germany showed that after the war she had changed, and was no longer the warlike Germany, he did not think she could be ousted from -the Pacific." Prussia, which dominates the Whole of Germany, has not changed for the last sixty or seventy years. It was always as warlike as it was aggressive; as unscrupulous as it wa3 covetous; and though the world is surprised and shocked at the infamies the Germans have committed in this war, history shows that their national character has not changed. It lias only been more vividly brought home to us. We only have to instance their treatment of hapless Denmark and France, not to mention Austria. Was it not von Freytag who said:

"Nobody can undertake to guarantee a long period of peace (following the present war). We misconstrue the facts if we imagine that it is possible to rid the world of war by means of mutual agreements, which would be felt an intolerable tutelage by any great and proud-spirited nation. As regards us Germans, the world-war should disencumber us, once and for all, of any vague cosmopolitan sentimentality."

This is the true Prussian speaking. He speaks in accordance with the nation's convictions. He is, of course, a militarist, and we may be told he does not represent the true socialist and democrat of Germany. But the war has shown how impotent these elements are in Germany; also that at the first crack of the whip they fall into line with the rest of the nation. See how enthusiastically they passed the war credits in 1914, when they felt they were in for an easy win. Like the German, they whine piteously when they see things going badly, as before the Russian debade. But when the German prospects improve, as they did improve a year ago, Ihey raise no voice against continuing the war. The German nation to-day exhibits no contrition for its black deeds, which, it believes, are quite justified if thereby victory is assured. If the nation had a conscience it. would never liave committed the awful crime of falling upon its neighbors and plunging the world into a welter of blood, indescribable misery and incalculable human and material loss. And if it showed any repentance, or even a sign of repentance, it would have given heed to the pronouncement simultaneously made at the beginning of the present year l>y the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Great Britain vith regard to the peace aims of the Allies, which were, in the words of Mr. Lloyd George, "So temperate, s'o moderate, so restrained iu their character that even the most pronounced pacifists could not challenge them." The i '•• was the most violent offensive C ,■ had ever undertaken, the whole ,u,a being io crush (h e Allies and impose German peace terms. That is the kind of nation we are deal!.-; with, and we cannot afford to take any chances with such a p<-m» The colonies have no desire for

conquest. We have lands in the Pacific and to spare. But we have had one expensive and terrible experience, and we are not again going to shackle ourselves and imperil the safety of our children. If the Germans are given back their islands, there will be no safety in the Pacific, and their presence there will be a perpetual danger. Wc cannot imagine a chastened German nation. They will only be chastened as long as it pays, and that will be as long as it takes to prepare for another war. To us in New Zealand and Australia, the ousting of the Germans is a supreme necessity, and if in the war settlement the colonies, are given back to Germany, the greatest wrong that could be done would be perpetrated against the colonies that have given thousands of their most preciouß lives, and suffered greatly, to free the World from the Teutonic yoke. We have had our lesson; we can, we repeat, take no risks in the future, and we must confess to a feeling of disappointment that an alert mind like Mr. Burton's could suggest that it was possible to again accept on friendly terms a, nation guilty of immeasurable crimes that can never be expiated. Had the sentiments expressed by Mr. Burton emanated from misguided British pacifists, no surprise would have been felt; but from a talented New Zealander we certainly expected a keener perception and truer appreciation of the vital issue at stake.