The Hawera Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1926. GERMAN COLONIAL AIMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 27 September 1926, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1926. GERMAN COLONIAL AIMS.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki. Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Pa tea, Waverley Mokoia, AVhakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Eraser Road and Ararata.

‘‘There is every. probability that the question of mandates will be raised very soon after Germany has become a member of the League' of Nations,” wrote the Berlin correspondent of The Times some two months ago. It is evident, therefore, that Herr Stresemann’s latest speech at Geneva —in which he claimed for his Government (.1) “The restoration of German sovereignty in German territory,” and (2) A recognition of the right of all peoples t.o selfdetermination—was not delivered on tlie spur of the moment. Until the issue is raised within the League, of course, that body is officially ignorant of Germany’s intention in this matter, and the new member may consider it politic to go no further for the present; but the fact that Herr. Stresemann c-hose a meeting- in Geneva during the currency of the League Assembly, at which to ventilate the colonial question, suggests a desire to acquaint delegates in advance of the claim that, at a later date, will be served on the. League. As a matter of fact, the colonial movement in Germany is very organised under the leadership of a body rejoicing in the title “Koloninl Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft, ” which impressive alphabetical array is reduced for ordinary use to “lvorag.” Some thirty societies and corporations are included within this organisation, the largest having 250 branches and about 30,000 members. The general outline of the German colonial policy was drawn up by the Korag last January, and was (hen briefly set out as follows: —

1. The mandate system must be retained so long as Germany’s colonies are not returned to her. For this purpose it is* necessary that Germany should have a permanent seat on the Council of the League so as to oppose with effect the annexation policy of the mandatories. •2. Recognition that all B mandates, i.e., all protectorates with the exception of 'South-West Afpica, New Guinea and Samoa, form a. complete administrative area and are not part of the territory of another State.

istrative purposes. 4. The same applies to finance and customs.

5. 'Crown lands, railways, harbours and public works arc the property of the protectorate and not of the mandatory. The League must regulate conditions with regard to works begun with loans from third parties. (i. The treatment of natives must be in accordance with. Article 22 of the League Covenant. Recruiting in the protectorates for foreign colonies must cease, and recruits from the Cameroons and Togo- must be repatriated. An international commission should, -be appointed, -by the League to watch over these. 7. The natives must have the right to petition the League directly, and the replies need not necessarily be through the mandatory. S. German trade must be -placed on a footing ■of equality in all -colonies, especially in the former German protectorates.

The key, to this- policy appears to be the first- sentence of the first clause:

“ . . . so long as -Germany’s colonies are not returned to her.” For practically everything else asked is already required 'by the. League’s control over mandated areas. While not contemplating the immediate restoration of lost colonies, the Koraff certainly assumes that they will be returned eventually, and it is probable that German influence- in the League will be used to this- end. At the same time, it is asserted by competent observers that there isi very little interest taken by the general public in Germany in either the former colonies or the colonial idea. “The colonial quesr tion,” writes the 1 Times correspondent already quoted, “appeals only to that small part of the natiou which either had direct relations with the colonies in the past or hopes to get a profit from its interest in them. now. It is not a national question in the political sense of the- word. In responsible German political circles I have heard it said that if the colonial question were to show signs of becoming a serious issue such as- to involve Germany in a quarrel with Great Britain all serious politicians would do tlieir utmost to remove it from the arena -of discussion, and they would have, the support of the Government.” After careful examination of British and French colonial methods, with particular reference to Africa, leading Germans have decided in favour of the former; and it seems now that the more thoughtful section of those inter’ested in German colonial policy “hope to advance in co-operation with, rather than in opposition to, Britain. One suggestion that has been made is that 'Germany, Great Britain and t-lie United States should combine in the formation of chartered companies for the exploitation of fresh, territory; but this does not appear to meet Avith any body of support in Germany. Although ITcrr Stresemann is taking rather much upon himself when he asserts that Germany’s admission to the League “was equivalent- to (the withdrawal of the accusations of responsibility for the war which had been made by the nations forming the League,” his claim that Germany lias “the same right to possess colonies as any other people” has substantial foundation. If it could be shown that the native people of any of her former colonial holdings really wished to revert to German rule, the League would be bound to consider a change. ißut, in the meantime, -the majority of the ex-German colonies and protectorates are making happy -progress under their several mandatory powers; and there has been no suggestion -that the loss of the distant Fatherland —to state the position from the colonial side—was, other than a blessing to the natives. It would be ’wise to let.well alone. There is scope ’enough for the League of Nations in fighting .the- wrongs of the world, without calling upon it to overthrow an arrangement of its own making which, so far, lias 1 worked admirably in .the direction intended.