MANDATE SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 8

MANDATE SYSTEM

THE FORMER GERMAN COLONIES

AN ATTACK IN THE REICHSTAG.

(Received March 6, 1.30 p.m.)

BERLIN, sth March. ■ Discussion in the Reichstag on the estimates for the Ministry reconstruction included a debate on colonial administration. National Deputy ■ Levverens, who is an ex-colonial official, made a slashing attack on the alleged mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency of British and ' French' administrators in former German colonies., He said the monstrous conditions were brought about by ihe mandate system! All that Germany had built up in three decades had been destroyed. The European population in East Africa had decreased from six' thousand to two thousand. Once blooming German plantations had disappeared, and railways had been closed. Even worse were the Cameroons and To^o, where the French had introduced universal' military service. The sanitary conditions were lamentable, and there were scandals among the officials. New Zealand had expelled Germans from Samoa, and now the plantations were being neglected and Spanish influenza was raging among the population. The mismanagement at New Guinea had attracted the attention even of the Australian Parliament. The .prevailing conditions there were .described as chaotic. Therefore, it was clear that the mandatory system did not promote the welfare of the peoples. It was a- peremptory duty that Germany should insist again and again. Germany should be allowed to co-operate in the tasks of colonisation, and should receive a mandate over the territories where she had accomplished, decadee of civilising work. Happily, the Government had not buried the hope that Germany would get her colonies back.