THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 6

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

DIRECT CONTROL DESIRED; By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Melbourne, Sept. 11. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Hughes said, regarding the Pacific mandate: "We thought the possession of the Pacific Islands was essential for Australia, and that we ought to obtain direct control over them, although President's Wilson's fourteen points forbade it, and, after a lot of righting, the principle of the mandate was accepted." The mandate was now embodied in the covenant. The actual terms had not yet been ratified, but the mandate had been bestowed upon Australia definitely. After referring to the attitude of Japan at the Conference and the fight he put up against her claims, the Premier said: "We hope Japan, and not only Japan, but all nations will remain on terms of the most perfect friendship with us, but we claim the right to say with regard to Australia who shall come in and who shall not come in. We had this right before, and we claim this right now." Dealing with the exemption of the Monroe Doctrine from the provisions of the Covenant, Mr. Hughes pointed out that it laid down that no European Power can meddle in any matter in the two American continents, but does not say America must not meddle in the affairs of Europe. It rested on no foundation of international law; it rested merely on the declaration of the President of the. United States; therefore it is proper that a like doctrine should be promulgated on behalf of Australia as far as the Pacific is concerned.