Germany’S Lost Colonies.

Former Enemy Officer Makes Striking Appeal to Australians.

Letter to the Editor.

AS a constant reader of the “Pacific Islands Monthly,” I have followed up your articles concerning the German colonial question with great in terest, but also with increasing aston ishment.

I have a personal knowledge of the conditions in the Pacific, having been there shortly before the war; close study afterwards enabled me to keep in touch with the South Seas.

Your paper on various occasions still blames Germany for being guilty of the war and says that for this reason the confiscated territories cannot be given back to her. In March you write: “The main dominating fact for consideration in connection with the disposal of the territories is the war guilt of Germany.

If Germany was guilty of causing the war, then the loss of her colonies is the least punishment she should suffer.

If Germany was not the aggressor, then unquestionably she should have returned to her those territories which, in the period from Bismarck down to the Great War, she governed and developed so ad mirably.” Then you give as a proof of Germany’s guilt that she need only press the button and her army stood ready for war, whereas the other nations were absolutely unprepared.

I can only say that the German army, according to the general opinion, was the best army in the world and there fore would have been ready in any case, whether earlier or later. Germany and

her people, however, were economically unprepared, otherwise they would never have been reduced to such a state of starvation. In our colonies, every one thought war out of the question. On the other hand, the political isolation of Germany began years and years before the war, perhaps to not such an extent at the outbreak of the war as many nations would have wished. How would it otherwise have been possible for 26 nations, so utterly different in every respect, to suddenly enter into an alli ance against Germany?

Of course, a scapegoat had to be found. Appearances were against us and the circumstances under which the war broke out gave our enemies the oppor tunity to put the blame on us. There was no question as to who was the aggressor and Mr. Asquith, the British Prime Minister, at the early date of September, 1914, put an end to any dis cussions that might arise by declaring: “One Power alone is responsible and that is Germany.” The war guilt thus thrust upon us, became a mighty political weapon in the hands of the Allies. Afterwards, they induced the United States of America to join the war and this fact decided the struggle in favour of the Allies.

Germany was like a besieged fortress and could not defend herself against the enormous propaganda. The false state ments, spread all over the world about Germany’s guilt, gained solid ground and led to the moral foundation of the Peace Treaty. Germany’s endeavours to get rid of this unjust accusation, in order to save at least her honour, failed on account of the blind hate of her enemies. Nobody believed Germany, because no one wanted to believe her.

It was not until years afterwards, that we were able to clear ourselves of this awful charge, supported—and you will lay more stress on it —by lead ing personalities of the Allied and Asso ciated Powers.

The lies about the atrocities caused by our army, which were to strengthen Germany’s guilt, were mere fabrica tion. From the first day to the last, I fought in the front lines as a German officer, in innumerable battles in France, and I can assure you with a clear con science that not a single one of those “atrocities” were committed. If any thing of the kind ever occurred, it can only have been caused by natives — and they did not fight on our side.

We Germans did our duty just the same as you did and yet with this small difference that our life has been a con tinual sacrifice during the last nineteen years for our country.

I appeal to the British Nation, hence also to you Australians, to cease be lieving those lies about Germany.

Firstly, because we are so closely re lated and, secondly, because you know how to think in a fair way.

I personally heard Lord Kitchener say in Australia, 1910: “It would be a great thing if the two white races, England and Germany, could learn to understand each other.” Another reason is the sen tence in your paper dated May 18, 1933: “The whole world holds out a welcom ing hand to the new, proud, re-vitalised

Germany, and gladly will assist the Germans back to their rightful place among the nations.”

You further say: “No one in his senses can defend the Versailles Settle ment; one can only say it was a fitting end to humanity’s four years of mad ness." May I remind you of what really happened: Germany laid down her arms in full confidence that Wilson’s 14 points would form the basis of the forthcoming Peace Treaty. After hav ing done so, Germany was forced to sign the tragical Versailles—please to look upon it from our point of view— Dictation.

You are aware, that all our colonies and valuable provinces have been taken away from us. Even Danzig—German to the core—was pronounced a free state; and a senseless “corridor” was cut through Germany. The rest of the body was condemned to work for the whole world for decades. There was no possibility for superfluous popula tion to settle down, who in despair flooded in from the confiscated ter ritories to what was left of a great Fatherland. No possibility of getting our own raw materials and increasing difficulties for an outlet for our goods.

Result: an economic crisis all over the world.

On another occasion you write your self: “Frankly we cannot see, that the possession of the former German colonies is much of an advantage to the countries concerned, and, it may be, that as sources of raw materials, the possession of these Pacific territories would be more advantageous to Ger many than to us. We recognise that a nation such as Germany must have new lands—particularly tropical ter ritories—to develop.” And I ask: What are the words of Wilson’s fifth point?

I believe—indeed, I am sure—that with a revision of the Versailles Settlement peace and commonsense will return to the world. The absolute lack of elbow-room for one nation with her thirst for new territories and the vast, enormous colonial possessions of other nations are against the laws of nature, especially in our century, with its highly developed and continually advancing traffic and modern in ventions.

Australia could do much to help Germany and, with her, the world, if she were to raise her voice and bring truth and justice to light.

I am, etc.,

Paul Schnoeckel,

Former Major in the German Army.

Berlin, 10th June, 1933.