EX-GERMAN COLONIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 15 June 1936, Page 4

EX-GERMAN COLONIES

IT will have been noted that the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, who is, as a matter of fact, the absolute ruler of Germany, has “approved of a publicity campaign for the restoration of the German colonies.” If such a campaign is to have any effect it must be conducted with a view to influencing the League of Nations, in which body Germany’s lost colonies were vested by the Versailles Treaty. Now, Germany’s relations with the League are not very happy, for after being admitted to that body, and acting as an active member of it for some few years, the German delegates at Geneva suddenly retired, and have since taken no part in the League’s proceedings. Germany cannot, therefore, approach the League as a member, but must necessarily appear before it as a supplicant. She will not be able to take part in any debate between members of the League upon the question of her proposed application. The mandates have now been in existence for nearly seventeen years. There is no question that the mandatory Powers have ruled the territories other than wisely and well, and that the inhabitants of those territories are happier than they were under the Germans. Why, then, should there be any alterations in the existing arrangement? It is true that a little time ago, the British Premier made a guarded statement as to the possibility of Britain being willing to consider the question of mandated territories, the inference being that she would agree to return to Germany certain territories held under the League’s mandate. But, in any case, the British Government was not speaking for the Dominions, whose governments are sovereign, and consequently can treat individually or collectively with the League as to territories which they took from Germany by force of arms. Presumably it will be to the nations of the League that the Germans’ forthcoming spectacular appeal will be made. In such a matter as that referred to, the League’s course of action cannot be foreseen. It is certain that it would not take any precipitate action, but would give the mandatory Powers full opportunity to state their case as to why the political status of the territories under consideration should not be changed.