Return Of German Colonies

Northern Advocate, 21 October 1938, Page 9

Return Of German Colonies

The immediate restoration of certain German colonies was advocated fn an interview by Professor S. R. Harlow, professor of international relations at the University of Massachusetts, who is visiting Sydney under the . terms of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It would be a statesmanlike move, he said, to anticipate Herr Hitler’s demands for colonies. If Germany was repossessed of certain of her colonies it would be one of the surest guarantees of peace, for she would realise that, if she precipitated a conflict, they would be lest immediately. The move, moreover, would placate German opinion by enhancing Germany’s prestige, which had been the primary aim of her policy since Hitler rose to power. American Opinion, Hitler, he continued, was a madman, but a clever madman. The partition of Europe after the war, and the subsequent Czech treatment of the Sudetens—who. Professor Harlow pointed out, were Austrians, not Germans—had given Hitler a good case for intervention. The majority ef thinking Americans were agreed that Mr Chamberlain’s efforts alone had saved the world from a blood bath that would have meant the wreck of civilisation.

The threat to world peace, however, Professor Harlow emphasised, came not only from Germany but equally from Italy. Italy’s needs and ambitions would almost certainly force her. in the near future, into another colonial adventure, thig time in Asia Minor. She needed an outlet for her population, and she needed raw materials. Abyssinia had been a disappointment Vast sums of money had been spent there, and the returns had been negligible, and showed little signs of substantial improvement.

Mussolini and Asia.

Moreover, the Abyssinians were by no means conquered and there was constant fighting in the interior. Abyssinia offered little attraction to Italian colonists, and it was only a matter of time before Mussolini’s eyes would turn to Asia Minor.

Dealing with the “isolation” policy of the United States, Professor Harlow said that theye were three important schools of thought among Americans on this subject. One favoured complete isolation and self-sufficiency; another believed in collective security by co-operation with other great democracies. The third, to which he belonged, saw the only permanent hope for world peace m economic justice between the “have" and the “havenot” countries. He strongly advocated the calling of a world economic conference to adjust anomalies and correct injustices.

A German delegation has arrived in Dublin to negotiate a renewal of the trade agreement with Eire, which will expire on December 31. Germany last year bought £1,000,000 worth of Irish cattle, horses and agriculture produce. Eire’s imports •from Germany were mainly manufactured goods to the value of £1.500,000.