GERMAN COLONIES IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 11 February 1918, Page 6

GERMAN COLONIES IN THE PACIFIC

Sir,—The importance of , leaving nvLhiiig undone whioh would help to make sure that the (itniian colonies in the Paciiio will not revert to Germany alter the war, is, I think, a suiiiciciic excuse for troubling you with this letter. Wβ are told tliat Mr. Jliispey and Sir Joseph Ward will icpresent the Dominion m London at the forthcoming meeting there of tho Imperial War Cabinet. One of the most important questions so far as the population of .New Zealand is concerned, which they will have to discuss, will certainly be the subject of the German colonies. We must not ruu away with the idea that our interests iu this connection will be safeguarded by those who will represent Groat and Greater Britain at the Peace Conference. We have had a very clear, and downright statement on the subject from Mr. Long. Thero were no qualifying conditions attached to his statement. This cannot be said of Mr. Lloyd George's speeches on the subject.' He talks of some sort of pronouncement by the native inhabitants of the various colonies as to what their v.'ishes in the matter are, and that this pronouncement is to bo the important factor in the decision. It would make this letter too long to , show why this may prove a very dangerous line to take. I think it is sufficient to say that there is not one Now Zealander in a hundred who would agree that,

because the Samoaus voted in favour of retrocession to Germany, Samoa, should again become a Gorman possession. The question is: What can we do at the present moment to make sure that Riich,a. thing shall not happen? My idea is that at the foithcominp; session of Parliament in Wellington a resolution should bo passed by tho Houso that 'under no circumstances would the people of ,this Dominion be satisfied to see the Germans back in, the Pacific, and that it should be a, mandate to Mr. Masse-y and Sir Joseph Ward to lay thai resolution before the Imnerial War Cabinet. T shall bo'much surprised if some member does not move in this matter. —I am, etc., S. IT. GRAVES. Kotorna, Feb. 6, 191 R.