GERMANY'S COLONIES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16363, 7 November 1918, Page 7

GERMANY'S COLONIES

SIR RIDER HAGGARD DEMANDS' A GOVERNMENT DECLARATION, j (3y Cablew—Prn's A«ociat;'on.—Copyright j Times. ') (Received November 6th, 8.10 p.m.) ' LONDON, November 5. Sir Rider Haggard, in a letter, says: "Mr Balfour's statement of October 3rd loaves' the disposal of tho German' colonies undetermined. A Government declaration which .cannot subsequently be explained away is needed urgently." He learned during his tour of the Dominions that cny weakness in policy •would be bitterly resented; indeed, it would shake the Empire. Tho security of Australasia would be impossible if Germans were permitted to swarm the Pacific with secretly-constructod submarines and flocks of aircraft ready to attack at a moment's notice. The Germans undoubtedly would create a gigantic native army if they returned to Africa. After four years of fighting there had beon shown the formidablcneas of the possibilities of such an army. It was vain to suppose that the League of Nations would obviate the risks. Tho Germans will not undergo a sudden re-

pentance."

Mr Balfour, speaking at the Australian and Now Zealand Club luncheon on October 23rd, said that for the consonance and safety of tho Empire, under no circumstances should tho German colonies bo returned. It was absolutely essential that tho British Empire's communications should remain safe. If the German colonies were returned what security -was there that the original possessors would not use them as buses for piratical, warfare? Ho could see no other answer to this question than that in no cirr instances was it consistent with the saietv, security, and unity of the Empire that the colonies should be returned to Germany. This was not a selfish Imperialistic doctrine. It was one in which the interests of the world wore almost as much concerned as the intorests of tho Empire itself. IT wo were to remain a united Empire k -iras absolutely necessary that ways by which the component parts could communicate with each other should never again be at the mercy of an unscrupulous Power