THE CESSION OF HELIGOLAND

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 69, 22 March 1910, Page 2

THE CESSION OF HELIGOLAND

— _ "Bara Fostns" sends another long let- ] ter in reply to "J.G.C." upon the cession j of Heligoland and its 2000 inhabitants to Germany. He asks whether "J.G.C," or any fair-minded, intellectual' colonial, who loved to bear the proud and distinguished title of Britisher, would consider Britain justified in handing over New Zealand to Japan, Russia, or any other foreign Power, in exchange for any treaty rights under the sun. And adds: "The handing over of Heligoland to Germany by the Tory Premier, the Marquis of Salisbury, was done for _.c specific purpose of obtaining from ■ Germany a deftilite promise not to interfere with England in her exploitation of certain spheres in East Africa, -especially. Zanzibar. These rights, as everyone familiar with Tory tactics' knows, had very little validity. As a matter of fact, they were Blade at a time when the European Powers were marking out their 'spheres' of influence in Africa, and inventing the new theory of 'hinterlands,' and had the then ■ - Tory Government been called upon to defend certain rights in -East Africa against Germany, or any other foreign Power, England would have been in a most awkward position. Above all the powers • on' earth the Tory Premier Salisbury feared Germany, and, consequently, he was eager and ready to make any and every sacrifice in order to buy off German opposition. How well the noble Tory Marquis did, history has i recorded 'JJG.C' wants mc to name' a single statesman who opposed the shameful surrender of Heligoland. His sapiency is divine. Well, it is quite true 'that Mr. Glads—me, whose chief aim in foreign policy was to encourage international fr_ndships, had no objection to make to the bargain with Germany, though we may imagine to ourselves what howls of execration there would have been raised against the Liberals had they •been the authors of the proposal. -But Mr. Gladstone protested against the procedure on 'constitutional grounds,' in- __— as the "submitting the treaty in the form of a bill (a most unusual procedure) gave the House of Lords the right to pass or reject it. Sir Win. Harcourt joined also in the protest. " Many other Liberals protested against • the maimer in which Heligoland was Toeing treated. Mr. Charming declared in the House of Commons .hat it was an odious precedent to hand- over British • subjects and •an 'English colony' to a i foreign country without formally, and in 1 a cca_-itutionil -manner, ascertaining the wishes of the inhabitants. Many other prominent Liberals spoke to the same I effect; but ■ Toryism was never lacking :in shame. It is a word they wot not of, ■. consequently the surrender of Heligoland ' was carried by 221 votes to 63, tlys only ■ men to vote against the hauling down '• of the British flag, which stands the wide • world over for Liberty, were one Conser- , vative, forty Liberals, and a- number of Irish' Nationalists." "Bara Fostus" pro- ;' ceeds to amplify the remarks made in • | his former letter as to • the strategic I importance of Heligoland, and says: "If ,: Heligoland is of so little importance to iI Germany, or to England, why in the [; name of common sense is Germany spendj i ing millions upon fortifying it, and con- . I structing large docks there? Are we to i 1 assume that German statesmen are im- [ beciles, that they squander millions upon »j. armaments which will prove of no mail terial value?" l ___________!____^_______