THE GERMAN COLONIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17815, 13 June 1918, Page 4

THE GERMAN COLONIES.

Naturally when the fate of the Ger- ! man colonies is under discussion we in this part of tho world are apt to think | only or chiefly of tho colonies in the Pacific. The Australasian objection to tho restoration of Samoa and New Guinea to Germany is based broadly on the obvious ground that the German is a dangerous neighbour. Tho question is 'likely to bo considered*' during the present meeting of tho Imperial Conference, and the cable messages havo made it clear that tho wishes of Australia and New Zealand will not lack support in the Mother Country. The issues at stake in regard to tho African colonies are of a different kind, but it is significant to find tho problem discussed in South Africa in very much the same terms as we are using here. Tho South Africans, however, occasionally go n good deal further than do Australians, for they assort the belief, or at least tho fear, that if German South-West Africa and German East Africa should be returned it would be extremely difficult to prevent South Africa also from falling into German hands. A strong plea for the retention by Britain of the conquered colonies in Africa is advanced in "Tho Times" by a correspondent whoso experience has been wido, for he says that he has served in the Camcroons, in Togoland and in East Africa. The white man, he declares, has lost prestige in Central Africa, becauso for years ho preached the doctrine that fighting was a sin and then ho threw his doctrines to the wind. Moreover, tho white men not only fought among themselves, but they also trained tho blacks to shoot whites. So far as tho British are concerned thoy havo gained prestige by reason of tho fact that they arc the conquerors, whereas hereafter the Germans in Africa will bo "bush whites." But obviously it would be a very serious matter for Britain, with her vastAfrican possessions, if after tho war she handed tho conquered territories back to the Germans. And tho correspondent argues that it would be a grave injustice to the natives, jbecauso as tho British armies marched they recruited natives as carriers, as spies and runners and sometimes as soldiers, and everywhere their progress was facilitated by the food supplies readily offered by tho villages and by the willing help of the natives generally.' If the Germans were«ver again in control in East Africa they would undoubtedly meto out punishment to the villages that had helped the British, and experience suggests that they would not bo discriminating or lenient in their vengeance. There is tho further consideration that if tho Germans should again havo access to the man-power of Central Africa they would set to work to organise it to tho fullest capacity, menacing the peace not only of Africa but also of tho rest of tho world. The point on which the correspondent chiefly insists, however, is that the return of the conquered territories would undoubtedly be interpreted by tho natives as being due to fear of Germany, and tho blacks would thus bo ready to respond to the inevitable German intrigues against the peace and security of tbe British possessions. The, general argument, therefore, is that the expulsion of the Germans from Africa has created a set of conditions under which it would be perilous to permit them to return. Beside tho African problem, indeed, the Pacific problem would appear to he. comparatively simple.