HUN BELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 16628, 10 January 1918, Page 8

HUN BELIEF

AUSTRALIA A GERMAN COLONY. Mr Thom a* J, M’Mahon, who arrived in Sydney last week, is a man of cosmopolitan address. Broadly he is generally at home either in one or other of the States of Australia or in the Pacific Islands, whose conditions, in their relation to the Commonwealth, have been the subject of his close study. Mr M’Mahon says that by word and by pen he has tried, to foster a good feeling between those islands and Australia on tire ground that Australia should be regarded as their mother land. Especially is this applicable, he points out, to placea like German New Guinea,. the Solomon*, and other spots within close range of the Australian coast. Mr references to German New Guinea are of special interest because of the fwrt that it is now under Australian military occupation, with Sir Samuel Petherbridge as Administrator. “ There,” says Mr M'Mahon, “ I saw a good deal of the Germans. They are still there—very mnfih there. Indeed, so much so that they foil to see that they are going to be defeated. They still hold all the interests there. They have done wonders, and, have proved unmistakably that German New Guinea is a wonderful territory. German New Guinea is a place of such resources, of such prospective wealth that should it come under Australian administration and protection after the war it wall recoup the Commonwealth for much of- its borrowing for war purposes. Most Australians do not understand that this territory is still German country, governed by German laws, and is merely occupied by an Australian Administration' under the terms of occupation. My investigations led to the opinion that the Australian Administration is most highly successful. Thanks largely to the tact and firmness of Sir Samuel Petherbridge, the Germans there are behaving themselves well; and are giving nq trouble. That territory will unquestionably be a very valuable asset to the Commonwealth should it be passed over to it. All the main tropical products are engaging the attention of the Germans. Their plantations are becoming, wonderfully fruitful and profitable, the revenue since the military occupation having largely increased. Far from relaxing their efforts because of the occupation, they a?e going vigorously ahead in the firm belief that it will remain German territory. Some of them have openly expressed to me the strong belief that after the war Australia will be German territory. “ My inquiries have taken me to many places made notable by the late Dr George Brown. The .part that Australians are playing, both in enterprise and in actual investment, in the Solomons is somethin" that cannot escape notice. Whil e English enterprise there is represented largely bv Lever’s, the dominating company 'from the standpoint of Australian enterprise G that of Burns,, Philp, and Co.. Did., whose enterprise and, courage have proved such big factors in building up the Pacific Island trade. In that connection that firm have done splendid work, and have not received the credit which is their due.”