The Guardian FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1938 Germany's Claim for Colonies

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIX, Issue 88, 4 November 1938, Page 4

The Guardian

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1938 Germany's Claim for Colonies

Printed at Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday, and Friday afternoons.

Utterances by highly-placed Nazi officers leave no doubt that Germany intends to prosecute its claim for the return of its colonies to the uttermost, its leaders apparently being obsessed with the belief that the might of the German nation is so great, and the desire of the rest, of Europe for peace is so strong, that the shaking of the mailed fist in their faces, accompanied by a threat of war, will be sufficient to effect the desired restoration. For instance, here is a sample, an extract from a speech made the other day by Dr. Goebbels:—"To-day we reap the first harvest, but we are equally sure to achieve our new aims if we set ourselves to them. The Powers sent negotiators, not understanding that there was no chance of negotiations. When Hitler stated his case clearly at Nuremberg everyone knew 'Now the pie is ready,' and that we could beat them at their own game. Some say it was a miracle, but the German man in the ; street is now accustomed to political miracles, and asks casually when will the colonies be served up. We say that by such and such a day we shall get what is ours or draw the sword. That works. Others bluff and concentrate on a big fleet. They will finally come along, because they don't want bloodshed."

The demand for the return of the colonies is one which affects New Zealand, for this Dominion is not only the mandatory power for Western Samoa, but has benefitted considerably from the supplies" of phosphates from Nauru, which formed part of the pre-war German Empire. Containing an area of 1,134,239 square miles, the German overseas empire was roughly five

times the size of the Fatherland. The average annual migration of Germans before the war was 25,000 but three-quarters of this outward stream found its way to the United States of America. The last figures showed that the total number of whites in the German colonies was 24,170, and of this number 18,500 were German settlers. It could not, therefore, be contended that Germany had any claim on its late possessions because they afforded an outlet for the surplus population. Of Germany's trade in the days before the war, more than 99 per cent, was independent of its colonies and the latter were not self-supporting.

The ex-German colonies are held in trust on behalf of the League of Nations by the Powers to whom mandatory authority has been given. To these Powers has been entrusted the responsibility of governing the colonies "as a sacred trust of civilisation," on conditions approved by the League and subject in certain respects to regular League supervision. The mandatory Powers do not exercise sovereignty in the accepted sense, but the main requirements of their task is to see that the welfare of the native population is looked after and that there shall be complete equality of economic opportunity for all members of the League. The mandated areas are not meant to be a source of gain to the mandatories and the latter are debarred from raising troops except for local defence. The work of the mandates is supervised by the Permanent Mandates Commission, consisting of a body of non-official experts from different countries. Each year the mandatory Powers are required to furnish to the "commission reports of their stewardship.

Of the mandated areas, France controls most of Togoland and the Cameroons on the West African coast. Britain controls the rest of Togoland and the Cameroons, as well as most of the former German East Africa, now known as Tanganyika Territory. In addition, Britain holds Nauru. A populous area once included in German East Africa has been added to the Belgian Congo. The Union of South Africa has taken I over German South-west Africa. Japan holds what were Germany's Pacific islands north of the equator; these are small but numerous. Australia holds the mandate for German New Guinea and, generally speaking, the former German islands south of the equator; New Zealand has Western Samoa. It will be seen that any question of a return of the colonies will create intricate and involved problems and prolonged negotiations, in which the wishes of the people most concerned—the native populations—will become important factors.