Colonies?

Shall We Return the German Colonies?

Letter to the Editor THE serious situation that may arise in the Pacific through the aspirations of a recreated Germany, so vividly expressed in the able article in your January issue, is worth of all the consideration that dwellers in this Territory can give it.

If it be accepted that the effect of the vote by the German nationals in the Saar Valley, for a return to full citizenship of their native land, will act as an inspiration to that country to re commence a programme of Empire building over seas, it is certainly time we began to think what can be done about it. An added incentive to do the right thing would be our acceptance as sincere of Hitler’s recent utterances to the effect that Ger man aims are all directed towards universal peace.

There may be pathos in the hysterical attitude of France, whose feelings of terror are engendered by propinquity and past experience. On the other hand, we have an arrogant Japan backed by an expensive navy. We must set our faces against all this kind of thing and approach the subject in a big hearted way.

Our recent action in wiping out an attempt by a German shipping line to establish themselves in these waters (because they would interfere with, our trade, forsooth!) can only create unfriendly feelings and convey an impression that any hint of German expansion will be bitterly resented by us.

Yet with a renewal of colonisation by Germany in the Pacific we must accept the fact that German shipping would follow as a national sequence.

But that need not concern us greatly for if, as the inference of your article suggests, we carry out this act of restitution and hand the Mandated Territory back to Germany, it would be unlikely that many of our nationals would remain in it, so that the necessity for British shipping lines would

practically disappear.

It is more or less upon this issue that the writer feels unable to go quite all the way with you. Even if we feel that the Mandate was thrust upon us in the first place and that we have really

no right to be here, it might be contended that we have done something towards the country’s de velopments, during the last 10 years, at any rate, and that we are due for some reward. To meet this contention, and as this letter is meant to be constructive, it is suggested that when this ques tion of colonisation is awakened in earnest —if it must be—Germany might be offered the return of the islands of New Britain and New Ireland and their surroundings as they stand to-day while we retain that portion of the mainland which we now occupy. It is submitted that, in this way, we would return to the Germans not only most of their lost territory but almost all of the value of the indemnity that they agreed to pay as well.

Their colonisation would be almost the same as it was after their previous 50 years’ occupancy and

our own conscience would be clear!

The position of this portion of the Territory then would be unique. It would have the agreeable distinction of being practically the only solvent and surplus producing State in the world—in fact there would be nothing to hold it back.

The whole question certainly merits the concen trated study of all those who have the interests and well being of all other nations—and our own, of course—at heart.

I am etc.,

Janus.

Wau

26th February, 1935.

EDITORIAL NOTE: While the argument in the article to which our correspondent refers was in favour of the return of the German colonies, we have expressed the opinion repeatedly that the restoration of the Pacific Islands (New Guinea, Marshalls and Carolines, Samoa) is not practical politics. Those islands are at the end of 10,000 miles of communications and are very difficult to defend. Germany can get full scope for her colonising genius, and a rich source of raw ma terials, by arranging the return of her former African territories.

At the third annual general meeting of the members of the Pacific Islands Asso ciation held on April 4 the following Council was elected;—Sir Hubert Murray (President). Sir J. Maynard Hedstrom (Vice-president), Hon. Alport Barker, M.L.C., Messrs. J. Colclough, J. W. Baldie, R. W. Robson, W. B. Rainsford, and G.

M. Rodger, Drs. W. L. Calov and C. C.

Simson, Rev. M. A. Warren and Capt. S.

G. Green.