COLONIAL CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1939, Page 7

COLONIAL CLAIMS

GERMAN AND ITALIAN PLANS ANTICIPATION OF MAJOR CAMPAIGN. INTENSIVE PROPAGANDA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 12. Little doubt exists in diplomatic circles that Germany and Italy are preparing to launch a major campaign for colonies, but whether it will take the form of a thunderbolt is not yet clear. It is learned from Berlin that Herr Hitler is making definite plans to regain the territory that Germany lost after the Great War,- but apparently by peaceful stages. At. first tbe force of the propaganda campaign will be increased, but parallel with it will be an insistence of a desire for a peaceful solution. This expressed desire for peace will be sharply contrasted with the “warmongering policies” of the western democracies. It will be contended that Germany’s honour is involved because of the “colonial guilt lie,” which must be expunged. The democracies will be requested publicly to proclaim Germany’s legal right to all her lost colonies, and to recognise that her colonial rights are inextricably woven into the pattern of German economics and commerce. The culminating step will be a peremp- 1 ' tory demand for redistribution. The German Propaganda Ministry is issuing maps emphasising the size and the. richness of the lost territory.

In London it is reliably stated that Germany. will insist on a settlement of the colonial problem before the talks with British industrialists in. Berlin shall have any effect. The Prime Minister,- Mr Chamberlain, will probably ask the other countries concerned to consider the matter in the near future.