THE GERMAN COLONIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1506, 10 April 1919, Page 5

THE GERMAN COLONIES.

RESTORATION CLAIMS OPPOSED

OPPRESSION OF THE NATIVES,

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. THE HAGUE, March 29. Advices from Berlin say that Rotefahne frankly denounces the claims for the restoration of tho Gennan colonies, and declares that anyone desiring the welfare of tho natives must not wish Germany to regain the smallest foothold in Africa, at least until the slave yoke is thrown off at home. The German administration of the colonies, he added, had been shown to bo tho worst form of oppression, and the suffering natives naturally .preferred English, French, or Italian rule.

THE SAMOA MANDATORY.

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association,

LONDON, April 8. Official.—Referring* to telegrams from New Zealand to London newspapers, which quote a section of the New Zeivland press as being opposed to the Dominion- mandatory control of Samoa, Mr Massey states that ho is agreeable to purely British control, but as previously explained the Allied Powers are opposed to direct annexation of former German colonies. Therefore there is no alternative to New Zealand mandatory control except the probability of similar occupation by a Power other than British. This, in the circumstances, is surely an unthinkable humiliation. Moreover, Samoa can be made to pay its way. No garrison will bo required, and its trade will bo valuable to New Zealand. It is considered by competent authorities that Samoa is one of the most important strategic and trading centres in the Pacific. The Now Zealand newspapers also state that our administration of the Cook Islands has failed, thus proving our incapacity for accepting control of Samoa, said_ Mr Massey. This statement is unfair in effect and inaccurate. British Government authorities say that our administration of the Cook Islands has boon an undoubted success.