GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1904, Page 5

GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

INJURY TO AUSTRALIAN TRADE. DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE. THE QUESTION OF REPRISALS. [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received November 25, 9.27 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. In tho Federal Senate, Mr. Smith moved his notice of motion with reference to German trade restrictions in the Pacific—" That the Government take all steps possible to counteract the great injury that will result to Australian trade if the evident intention of the German Government to establish a monopoly for German traders in their Pacific Islands is carried out." Mr. Smith said that the trade in the South Seas was of great importance to Australia. No doubt it was an inherent right of a nation to say whether it desired that other nations should not trade with it; but seeing that we gave Germany equal trading rights with others in the Commonwealth, the action of the Germans in the Marshall Islands should meet with a very strong protest. If that wore ineffective, it should meet with an act of a retaliatory nature. The German sphere of influence, he added, covered 3,600,000 square miles in the Pacific, with all islands in the area, and unless a protest were entered probably the exclusion would be oxtended to all the islands. Germany had been high-handed in the Pacifio for many years, and if retaliation were adopted the German tactics would probable soon be altered. If the Germans persisted in excluding foreign vessels, he would support a provision in the Navigation Bill excluding foreigners from the Australian coastal trade. Tho Attorney-General (Sir Josiah Symon) stated that the Government had the question under serious consideration, and had made strong representations to the Imporial Government with a view of diplomatic action being taken. He deprecated any idea of reprisals while other steps wore being taken. The question of reprisal might come up when other means had failed. The debate was adjourned till the Ist December.