Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1928 INTERNATIONAL COLONIAL POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 April 1928, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1928 INTERNATIONAL COLONIAL POLICY

A MATTER which escaped nr.tire by lhe press of tin* Dominion was lire annuiifn-c----ment madi- by lire French (lover nrircni that it intended to hold, in June next, a Colonial Cutiferem e, which Mr Arnery, together with Dutch and Belgian delegates, would be invited lo attend. This friendly internal iorra l development, which is largely the work of the Enion Coloniale, of which M. Francois Marsal :s President, cannot but n-sult in rerin-nt-ing lire good under-standing which already exists between Britain, France, Belgium and Holland. Last year a similar Conference, at which Mr A tilery was present, was held at Paris, though tire i vent caused srteli slight comment, that news of ii did not reach this country, and therefore little nr nothing is known of what transpired. But it is known that on that occasion, at the instance of the Union Coloniale. and with the approval of the President of the French Republic. Mr Aineiv camp into close consult niton with the French colonial authorities, and made a statement upon Britain’s colonial policy. That, indeed, was a truly remarkable happening, since it- meant that tho French and British Colonial Offices were working in harmony. In 1929, it is proposed that all the European Colonial Powers—Britain. Belgium, Holland. Italy. Spain, and Portugal—shall be invited to take part in a similar meeting at Paris. So that it looks as if such in-

ternational conferences in connection with colonial affairs are likely to be held nnnuallv.

Tho Union Coloniale, which is responsible for this new intermit ional movement. explains that these meetings are held with a view to securing the fullest, possible degree of beneficial co-operation of the European Powers, especially in Afr ica : and one result, of such co-opera-tion is that instructions have, already been given to French and British representatives and trader's in neighbouring territories (in Africa, presumably) to act as far ns possible in consultation, so as to secure the mutual benefit of this varied experience, and this policy is being actively pursued.

Not- only commercial interests hut all matters of common concern, and especially the weifan* of tire natives and the" struggle against tropical diseases, are included in tliis, co-opera-tion; in the recent outbreak of yellow fever in West Africa the Eiendi and British medical authorities worked in close consultation. The French an- anxious to co-operate with the Dutch in the Far East, where both nations hold extensive territories. It has been found that. French Indochina is eminently suitable for growing certain important crops which tire Dutch have been successful in raising in Java and Sumatra, and the French hope that the Dutch will send delegates to the international meeting, next, June, who will oiler helpful advice in relation to the raising of those products in French fiido-Chiriii. "It- is hoped,” says (lie London ‘'Times.” "that such consultation and co-operation will tend to stimulate what is good and to check what- is mistaken m the colonial methods of the European nations and will facilitate the civilising mission which is their common inheritance.”

Without commenting on ibis the ;i) miistii.: character of such collaboration, which seems to he almost, too good to li-- possible in the material sphere of in tcinational jiolitics, we wish to draw attention to one very praetieal result which possibly may he the outcome of this cIo u " association of the lamopetm Colonial Powers. Prior to the war of 1014 derma nv was possessed ol a. large Colonial Umpire. To-day she does not own a single Colony, in -Africa especially she held important, territories, and it is in regard to Africa that France is most desirous of creating the closest, cooperation of the colonising Powers—Britain. Portugal. Belgium, and herself. If that co-operation is successtullv developed, the result, will he that it will he inereas jnglv difficult for the fJermans to realise their widely published ambition to regain posses-ion of ihose vast, African territories which, under the mandates of :he League of Nations, have passed to t'lic Allies who won the war. Taking Tune hv the forelock, the logical and practical Ftetuli nation seems to lie hem upon combining tlie various Kuropean C'elonia! Powers by creating among ibetn tl common policy which sliall safeguard their individual colonial interests. And it links as if Franco will attain her oh j f .( t. It seems that Britain is closely as seriated with her in this policy, and it almost it fi regime conclusion that Portugal and "Belgium will follow Britain's lead. If Holland. Italy and Spain pin in the cullahorat ion. the whole ol ihe F.uropeati Colonial Powers will have csiahlished a good understanding, which lli,. Herman Colonial Party will find to ii" an almost, insuperable harrier to the realisation of its ambit ions.