The Dominion. THURSDAY. JUNE 7, 1017. COLONIES AND. PEACE TERMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3104, 7 June 1917, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY. JUNE 7, 1017. COLONIES AND. PEACE TERMS

, The territorial adjustments which must, bo effected at the end of the war have lately become- a subject of extended discussion, but so far as public utterances are concerned little prominence has been given to the problem of arranging a satisfactory" disposal of the German colonics. Yet, from the standpoint of Great Britain and her Dominions, this question is one of tho most vital which will come up for settlement at the. Peace Conference. The opinion is certainly held by an overwhelming .majority of people in the British Dominions that it would ho an unmixed calamity if Germany were permitted to resume possession I of the colonial territories which she developed mainly as strategic bases I and with an eye to augmenting her military power, and there is every reason to believe that the same opinion predominates in the Mother Country. It cannot be assumed as a matter of course, however, that tho British view upon this great question will be fully endorsed by the Allies when they come to determine conditions of peace. To the British pc9pic it is clear enough that it would be a most unwise policy not merely from the standpoint of British interests but from that of the interests of civilisation, and even of humanity at large, to allow Germany to, recover her former foothold on the African Continent and in tho islands of the Pacific. It is not so certain that the same clear perception of the essential issues at stake can be reckoned upon in any one of the countries with which we are allied. That existing conditions in Russia militate against a satisfactory solution of the problem under notice is Luo obvious to need 'emphasising. Time and the force of internal and external influences making for political order and coherent policy are likely to greatly modify Russia's attitude towards annexation and related questions before the- heads of the peace settlement take definite shape, but it docs not follow that, the British Empire and its Allies will be able to sec eye to eye in the matter of disposing ol tho German colonies. Wo have to consider what France and (he other allied countries would be likely lo do if they found themselves in a position to dictate such a peace settlement as all the Allies desire in reference, to Kun;j;c and to conditions at sea hill, villi Germany electing rather to continue the war Irian abandon claim to lier colonics. That France and Italy--leaving Russia out of account for.the lime being as an uncertain factor —would decide in these circumstances to persevere in the task of bringing Germany to terms is quite possible, but so far as is known it is not certain The- probability thai, some general agreement on the point has already been reached cannot be ignored. A question of such importance must have been discussed between Hie Allies, just as they would'find il. necessary to arrive at some agreement concerning France's intentions regarding Alsace-Lorraine and Italy's claims regarding her unredeemed lands in the possession of Austria. But. we know nothing definite of any such agreements, and can only ;isstimo that they will bo factors of importance likely to'influence the final decision.

America's whole attitude in regard to tho question of annexations has not. been disclosed, but. probably it is set out in the recent Note to Russia, the terms of which have not yet been published. Meantime, shestands openly with the Allies in regard to Poland, Alsace-Lorraine, miredeemed Italy, and reparation to tho countries invaded and harried by the modern Huns, but no authoritative announcement has been ma do up to tho present oEi her policy in rcforcrjcc to tho German colonies. It seems to bo quite clear, however, that if America adheres to the war policy which has been staled from time to timo in general terms by President Wilson, ber decision in this particular matter can only go one way. In the speech to tho Con-

federate veterans, which is reported i j to-day, President Wilson declared | that it was the mission of tho American nation to secure liberty for mankind, and ho concluded: "Wo now hayo to spend all our wealth and 'shed sill our blood, if needed, for tho service of mankind." Those noble ideals will certainly not ha realised if Germany is left free, to,transplant her "kultur" to a great colonial empire and there develop anew her schemes of military domination. The people of the British Dominions do not object to the restoration of the German colonics only because they arc averse to seeing an unscrupulous enemy advantageously posted to attack them at a moment of his own choosing. This consideration, of course, carries much weight, hut. still larger and broader issues than tho interests and security of any particular country arcalso at stake. In tho first place the re-establishment of German rule, particularly in the. case of Africa-, would involve handing over backward peoples to barbarous ill-usage and unscrupulous exploitation. Speaking in tho House of Commons a. few weeks ago, Lord Robert Cecil remarked that the German colonies in Africa, as well as Armenia- and Palestine, had witnessed terrible atrocities. Britain, ho added, would nothavo goho to war to rescue the natives suffering under this misrule, but, having rescued them, should we hand them back to Germany if we. were successful in the war'i Such action, said tho Minister, would be abhorrent. It would surely be abhorrent to America as 'well as to Britain and other allied countries. It is an even weightier consideration that the recovery by Germany of a- colonial empire would constitute a distinct menace, to the future peace of the world. General Smuts, who may ho quoted on tho subject as a- high authority, recently emphasised the clanger that Germany, given an untrammeled hand in Africa, might raise a black army of enormous size and formidable fighting power, and with this backing resunie her schemes of conquest. Weighing the considerations here stated —the interests of backward races and the clanger that the disease of German militarism may again develop dangerously in n new environment—America is bound to give due heed to the fact, that tho German nation has given no convincing indication of a desire to riso by its own efforts out of tho political conditions which made the present war possible. Germa.n newspapers declare confidently that "the conspiracy among the Allies'' to detach the German people from their, rulers—that is to say, to awaken the spirit, of democracy in the German people,—will fail. According to the Krcuz 'Aclluiuj the efforts of the English to bring about a division between people and rulers will make the monarchical principle (which in Germany is unadulterated military despotism) more precious than ever. ■'Nor (it adds) will Germany tolerate any amendment of her constitution at the point of the bayonet, French, ..Russian, or British." It seems hardly possible to challenge the general accuracy of this diagnosis of Germany's political condition. The Socialists have made themselves heard at times,' but the weight of evidence is that their agitation is in the main made to order at the bidding of the autocracy which rules tho Fatherland. They arc Germans first and all the time; playing Germany's game, and Germany's game is that which serves the arrogant'ambitions of the militarists. Tho conclusion is inevitable that German militarism will bo curbed- in no other way than by the exercise of superior force, and that to anticipate any spontaneous democratic growth in Germany which would make her less a peril in future to her neighbours and to the world would be at once fallacious and' dangerous. Those who oppose the' restoration of the German colonies do not necessarily favour the annexation of this or that colony by Britain or any other Allied Power. Tho general decision probably would leave a number of complex questions open for consideration, and a partial solution, particularly in the case -of certain areas in Africa, might bo found in the substitution of an international control for that of a single nation. Provided the German colonics were not returned to their former owners, a wide range of compromise would be possible. But there is no doubt that it is vital to the future peace of the world, and to the welfare of both white and dark races, that Germany should be denied restoration to her farmer position and standing as a colonial Power. New Zealand, in conjunction with the rest of the Empire, must make her voice heard on that question with all the weight and emphasis possible.