King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, February 18, 1936. DEMAND FOR COLONIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4810, 18 February 1936, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, February 18, 1936. DEMAND FOR COLONIES.

It is the opinion in Europe that much of the world unrest at the present time is due to the necessity of some countries for colonies to relieve the congestion of population and to obtain sources of raw material. Open threats have been made by Japan and Germany against Great Britain that she cannot hold vast territories and take no steps to develop them when these countries have no scope for development. Italy makes a similar claim, and nothwithstanding her obligations to the League of Nations, made war on Abyssinia, which country was also a member of the League. In view of the world unrest, suspicion and fear, it is impossible to approach this subject of a redistribution of colonies and mandated territories in a reasonable manner. A permanent settlement must ultimately be sought along the lines of justice and a recognition of legitimate national needs, but this can never be achieved in a world disturbed by threats and fears. Nor can reasonable results be obtained by the acts of brigandage of Japan in Manchuria and China, and Italy in Abyssinia. If these countries with a grievance are in need of colonies for expansion, where will their ambitions cease? There are no very rigid restrictions placed on the entry of foreign immigrants to British possessions, nor are there any difficulties in regard to obtaining raw materials from these colonies. The real truth is that those countries demanding colonies have in mind their national prestige. Great Britain secured her overseas possessions through the enterprise of her people, and retained them because of her wonderful colonising ability. All the Dominions have now practically selfgoverning powers, being really self-

contained States, though looking to the Mother Country for a lead in all international problems. The British Empire is a Commonwealth of Nations working together for their mutual advantage, and it is quite open to other countries to do the same. It is quite unlikely, nor would it be possible to hand over any of the Dominions or British colonies to another nation. The population of the Empire countries comes from British stock or are naturalised foreigners, who have not the slightest desire for a change in this way. In brief, Great Britain will not hand over any of her possessions, but the mandated territories open up another question. There is a strong objection in Britain to handing over these mandates to Germany, but the plain fact is that Germany must have room for her surplus population, otherwise that country will always remain a menace to world peace. If the Nazis had adopted a reasonable attitude since their accession to power, something might have been done to hand back at least a portion of her ex-colonies, but the Nazis adopted a policy of bluster and threats, and severed her connection with the League of Nations, the only Organisation that could help her in this way. If Germany defies the League she cannot expect any sympathy from that quarter in trying to fulfil her ambitions for expansion. Italy is in the same position when she made war on Abyssinia without any reason, and in direct contradiction to her obligations to,, the League, of which she is still nominally a member. Japan's ambitions go further than either Germany or Italy. She has acquired Manchuria and a large portion of China is under Japan's domination, and it would have been thought that she had quite enough territory to satisfy her for the present. Japan, however, seems determined to dominate the whole of Asia, and to be the predominant Power in the Pacific. This latter ambition must claim the attention of the United States, which country must realise by now that it is impossible for her to stand aloof from world affairs. Dark as the war clouds "are in Europe to-day, the position in the Pacific and the East is becoming equally menacing. Japan, taking advantage of the position in Europe, is steadily expanding in Asia, and has plans for further expansion in the Pacific. It is impossible to reason with Japan, but if Germany were given some concession and induced to again join the League of Nations it would remove a standing danger in Europe, the nations of which might then be induced to develop a more reasonable attitude to one another. In the meantime it would be a sound policy of the Empire countries to fill up their empty spaces by encouraging migration from the Mother Country and the Nordic countries of Europe.