RETURN OF ALL OLD COLONIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 11

RETURN OF ALL OLD COLONIES

TASK FOR HERR HITLER

PRICE OP PEACE

END TO VERSAILLES SPIRIT

United Tress Association—By Electric Tele.

grnpli—Copyright.

(Received February 3, 11.20 a.m.) BERLIN, February 2.

Germans are expecting Herr Hitler to secure the return of ai| the German colonies.

Official circles naturally are reticent, but argue that Herr Hitler has repudiated the lie that Germany was responsible for the Great War and that therefore the seizure of the colonies by Britain and her Dominions and others was robbery. Now that Germany is strong she demands the return of what rightfully belongs to her. She is prepared to view the question realistically. Her demands are susceptible to concession or adaptation, but she claims that all the former colonies must form a basis for negotiation. Germany does not pursue imperialistic aims, and considers that the problem of the white race in Africa cannot he solved permanently without German co-opera-tion. Offers of raw material agreements are mere half measures. Refusal to return ihc colonies will indicate that the spirit of Versailles still exists and that the Powers do not want peace in Europe. MEMORANDUM IN FEW WEEKS. It is understood that Germany will present at the end of February or early in March a memorandum of her colonial demands to the "interested Powers," presumably England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and France, Belgium, and Japan. It will be a long document setting out in great detail economic arguments for restoration o£ colonies in the interest of German recovery and expansion of world trade. Whitehall is unable to confirm reports that Herr yon Ribbentrop will bring a memorandum stating a case for the return of the colonies when he arrives in London tomorrow. On the contrary, no further move is expected from Germany in the immediate future, though it is recognised that surprise is now an important tactic in German policy. The Dominions will be fully consulted in the event of a German approach, as it -is recognised that they are vitally concerned in any decision.