Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1914. GERMANY'S EXPANSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 April 1914, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd, 1914. GERMANY'S EXPANSION.

The Grown Prince of Germany is evidently a "chip of the old block" ; he manages to keep the limelight glat ingonhim. To-day's cables relate that he desires the greater expansion of Germany in Africa. This reminds us that in Germany colonisation began after the foundation of the Empire under the headship of Prussia. Its colonial policy was imported direct from Prussia, .and was a natural product of the history of that, country, which had expanded its territories and reached its supremacy by a. series of conquests. Even last century the descendants of the fighting "Knights of Borussia" had feudal'ideas of caste, and ruled the submissive peasantry much as the Russians did., The landowners of East Prussia are regarded as the pillars of the throne, and it is from their ranks that many of the higher officials come. It was inevitable that, they should attempt ruling the territories overseas by (he same "system" 'that bad exalted their nation at. homo- A remarkable proof of Bismarck's foresight is given in this warning that this old plan would hot d<> in the.new conditions. "My aim." lie declared, "is the governing merchant, and not I lie governing bureaucrat, in those regions. Our Privy ( Vniiic.illurs »ml expectant subalterns are excellent enough at home, but in the colon-

ies I expect more from the Hanseatics (i.e., the traders) who have been there. ' In other words, he suggested that the traders should govern themselves, and they certainly have more interests in the development of these territories than a temporary bureaucracy could have. The advice did not prevail against Prussian traditions, and the results of these seemed at one time likely to end disastrously. Instead of becoming a great source of strength and prosperity like the British Dominions, the German possessions have been a drain on their Empire. They have been kept at the cost of millions of pounds and thousands of German lives, not to reckon the lives of many more thousands native subjects. The general impressi,n has grown amongst other nations that wh.il> the Germans are a strong r ice on the Continent, they are incapable of founding colonies overseas The majority of the Germans themselves shared this view for a time, and "Colony weariivss" took the place of the former "Coloiiy madness." But wiser minds amongst them have found in their fiasco a lesson that may lead them on to better things. German determination sets no bounds to what they can learn and accomplish, and they may y€t furnish a model of colonisation to the world.