GERMAN COLONIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 155, 6 August 1914, Page 10

GERMAN COLONIES.

POSSESSIONS IN THE PACIFIC. Germany's possessions in the Pacific have a total area of 96,000 square miles, or 'more than double the size of the North Island of New Zealand. The most extensive of the territories is German New Guinea, which has an area of 70,000 square miles, and the Bismarck Archipelago ranks next with 20,000 square miles. The total white population in the Pacific colonies is 1984, and the native population is estimated at 634,000. The German colony of Samoa comprises just on a thousand square miles in the two islands of Savali and Upolu, and has a white population of 557, and a native population of 34,579. Samoa is about 1880 miles distant from Auckland. The German overseas possessions in the Pacific, with their area and the dates of acquisition are as follow: — IN THE PACIFIC. Area. Sq. miles. German New Guinea (1885) .. 70,000 Bismarck Archipelago (1885) .. 20,000 Caroline Islands (1899) .... Pelew Islands (1899) 560 Marianne Islands (1899) .... 250 Solomon Islands (1886) .. .. 4,200 Marshall Islands (1886) .... 150 Samoa .. .... 1,000 96,160 lii the group outside Samoa there is a total white population of 1427 persons, and a native population estimated at 600,000; The German overseas possessions elsewhere in the world, with their date of acquisition, area, and white and native populations, are as follow: — IN AFRICA. Area. White Native Sq. miles, pop'n. pop'n. Togo (1884) 33,700 308 1,031,978 Kamerun (1884) . . 191,130 1,871 2,648,720" S.W. Africa (1884-90) 322,450 14,830 79,566 East Africa (1885-90) 384,180 5,336 7.645,770 931,460 22,450 11,406,024 IN ASIA. Kiauchau (1897) .. 200 Notav'hle 168,900 These colonies and possessions exported to Germany in 1912 goods to the value of £2,645,000, and imported from Germany £2,865,000. Their exports to Great Britain in the same year were £590,988, and the imports from Britain totalled £695,421. Wireless stations have been erected at Apia, Samoa, and Nauru (or Pleasant Island), one of the Marshall Islands. Two other stations are planned, ahd may possibly have been already erected, one at Kabaul, in German New Guinea, and one on Yap, in the Caroline Islands, A garrison of about 2700 men is maintained at Kiau-chau, in China, and Apart from this there is a special colonial force distributed in the other possessions. It numbers about 340 officers, 2250 German non-commissioned, officers and men, and ; 3830 native soldiers. Of these, about. 150 officers and 2000 other ranks, all German, are in South-West Africa. ENTENTE v. ALLIANCE. GROUPING OF NATIONS. The relations of the nations* of Europe id: one another are governed by an extensive system of treaties and commercial conventions. The.present grouping o*f the Powers dates back to .1881, when the Triple Alliance was formed by Italy joining in the defensive ; alliance then existing between Germany and Austria.

Russia, in 1884, concluded a secret treaty with Germany, which was said to have in view\a war 'with England-, but this treaty was terminated in 1890. France, since the close of the FrarieoPrussian, war ui 1871, had stood alone in Europe, and as soon as Russia was released from her obligations to Germany the foundations of the present franco-Russian alliance were laid. An understanding was arrived at in 1891 and was welcomed in both countries as enabling to regain their influence in the. counsels of Europe. Secret conventions were signed in 189-1 and 1892, which in the words of M. Ribot, then Foreign Minister, secured for France "the support of Russia for the maintenance of the equilibrium in Europe.'' The word "alliance" wa,s first used tentatively in 1895, and was at last definitely proclaimed by the Czar in 1897. Britain's connection with the Dual Alliance begau in 1904, when the AngloFrench Convention was signed providing for the settlement of all outstanding territorial questions between the two Powers and the Entente Cordiale thus established. In 1907 the long .period of suspicion between Britain and Russia was closed by the signing of the Anglo-Russian Convention settling the spheres of influence of the two Powers in Persia, and this convention was subsequently extended in 1911. Reference is made elsewhere to the obligations of Britain to France and Russia. The terms of neither the Triple Alliance nor the Dual Alliance have been officially published, but the three nations* of the Triplice are known to have agreed to defend their territories against any other or others of the Great Powers. It has been stated that Italy is bound to send a force into France in the event of a war between Germany and France, but the Italian Government subsequently informed the French that in no circumstances could she become an instrument of aggression against France. In 189(5 Rumania joined the .Triple Alliance. The only other nation in Europe connected by definite alliance with any member of either group is Portugal, which has been an ally of Britain's for many years. According to the treaty of alliance neither party is to help a nation attacking the other, nor to give asylum to the enemies of the other,

except to political fugitives or exiles. In case of war and invasion each nation is to assist the other with arms, men, and ammunition when required. The treaty has been renewed from time to time. Four European States have been permanently neutralised by treaties among the great Powers. The first was Switzerland, whose territorial iutegrity was permanently guaranteed in 1815 by Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia. Belgium was also neutralised by the Treaties of London of 1831 and JBo9 by the same Powers, and Luxemburg by the Treaty of London of 1867. In 1907 Britain, France, Germany, and Russia signed a treaty guaranteeing the integrity of Norway. By an international convention signed iu 1888, the Suez Canal and its approache were permanently neutralised. The position of the nations of Europe and the population of each may thus be set out as follows in relations to the two great combinations: — TRIPLE ENTENTE GROUP. Population. Great Britain .. . . 45.300.000 France 39,600,000 Russia .. .. •• 122,500,000 Servia .-. .. .. 4,500,000 Portugal 6,000,000 217,900,000 TRIPLE ALLIANCE GROUP. Germany 64,900,000 Austria-Hungary .. 49,900,000 Italy 35,200,0.00 Rumania .. .. .. 7,500,000 157,500,000 PERMANENTLY NEUTRAL STATES. Switzerland Norway Belgium Luxemburg UNATTACHED TO ANY GROUP. ' Sweden • Greece Spain • Bulgaria Denmark Turkey Holland DECLARATION* OF WAR. IS IT NECESSARY? From actual practice it is clear that a declaration is not regarded as essential. Until recently the last solemn declaration was in 1657, after this a less formal mode of declaration was sometimes used; often none at all, or the declaration was made after the war had begun. It has been calculated that between 1700 and 1870 not more than ten declarations were issued, and that in over 100 cases, apart from wars with savage nations, no declarations were made at all; but, curiously enough, within recent times there has been,' a return to earlier practice. . Before the Frauco-Prussian war a declaration was handed to the Prussian Government by the French diplomatic agent at Berlin, and in 1877 a formal declaration was made by a dispatch handed to the Turkish agent at St. Petersburg. ! Before the Spanish-American war the Spanish Government communicated a Note to the United States Minister at Madrid declaring that relations be-, tween the two •Governments were broken off and that no further . communications would bo received/This was on April 21, 1898. Thereupon, the American Minister demanded his passports. The Spanish Ambassador demanded his the previous day. The Spanish vessels were' captured by Americans as early as the 22nd. It was therefore a legitimate interpretation of the situation. created by the Spanish Note Mfor America, to regard war as having commenced on the 21st. The Russo-Japanese War of 1904 began, when the Japanese Minister presented a Note on February 6 to the Government declaring the termination of negotiations and the; right, reserved by his Government to take independent action, and announcing at the same time his intention to take his

departure. Hostilities broke out on the Bth, and a formal Japanese declaration was issued on the 10th. Russia complained of .Japan's precipitate action, maintaining that the breaking off of diplomatic relations did not imply the opening of but Japan was able to show that no formal declaration was necessary and that Russia failed to put a proper interpretation on her Note.