Fate of Pacific Lands
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
After the War
ONE of the most interesting addresses yet heard by members of the Pacific Islands Society, in Sydney, was delivered at the July meeting by Profes sor lan Clunies Ross, president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs. He described what he believed would be the Pacific problems presented at the post-war Peace Conference.
The probable claims of the interested nations were discussed. The Dutch would desire to resume control of their East Indian islands. China wished to be an independent, free country unhampered by foreign nations, reclaiming Formosa, Hainan and other islands. Russia would doubtless have a say in the future con trol of Manchuria and Korea.
The role of Britain and USA would be to keep the trade routes free in the Paci fic and they would retain bases suitable for that purpose. The Philippines would become a free country, as a protectorate of USA. The destiny of the French pos sessions is not clear —especially Indo china —and whether Hong Kong should become British again is also a problem.
Malaya and Singapore, and perhaps Thailand, would again come under Brit ish rule.
It was evidently assumed that the wel fare of the natives of the Pacific Islands would be best cared for under the domi nation of whichever Power is the pro tector of the respective territories.