Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1937 THE GERMAN DICTATOR’S CLAIM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 10 September 1937, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1937 THE GERMAN DICTATOR’S CLAIM

IT is somewhat unfortunate for i lon I liller that his claim for the return of Germany’s lost colonies synchronised with the publication of the report of the Committee appointed by the League of Nations to study the problem of raw materials, in respect to the nations' need for such. I he German Dictator's argument is that Germany cannot supply her own demand for raw materials, but must possess colonics in which to produce them. Germany’s claim to possess colonies, lie said, is merely dictated by economic distress. That may be so, but it is a strange fact that the League of Nations’ Committee, appointed to study the problem of raw materials, states in its Report that “the total production of all commercially important raw materials in all colonial territories is no more than 3 per cent, of world production, in fact: . . . most raw materials are produced wholly in non-colonial territories.’’ Whose opinion will the world accept—Herr Hitler’s, or that of the Committee of the League of Nations? Germany’s plea for the possession of colonies is natural enough: her territory is over-populated, and it is impossible Lo extend it in any direction except by means of force, which means war. Strangely enough it was her endeavour to extend her territory at the expense of France, in 1914, which precipitated the Great War, in the course of which she lost all her colonies. Now she pleads for their return. But will she guarantee (a) that she will colonise them adequately, for she did not do so with the colonies she lost, and (b) if her colonies are returned to her, will she guarantee that they will not be used as bases from which to harass the colonial territories of other nations? Furthermore, her plea should be made to the League of Nations. But the League is in a quandary. Japan has permanently annexed the important groups of islands which she took from Germany. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa hold other exGerman possessions which they captured. There remain the territories in Africa which Britain took from Germany during the Great War—which, it must be remembered, was created by Germany’s unprovoked invasion of Belgium and France. Britain still holds the territory which was German East Africa (more generally known as Tanganyika) and Kamerun. Britain does not really need them, though it is reported that the English colonists in the former of them desire greatly to remain under British rule. Perhaps, however, arrangements could be made for their transfer to suitable African territories under British

rule, or to the large region which is known as the Union of South Africa. But nothing is likely to be done in this matter while Germany remains the advocate of territorial expansion by force of arms, and refuses to consider any measure of disarmament. What seems to be wanted is a conference between Britain and the Dominions concerned, with a view to exploring all the channels which might lead to Germany’s appeasement without danger to the British Commonwealth of Nations or loss to its nationals. Then there is the problem presented by the desire of the natives’ to remain under British rule in the territories which Germany seeks to be returned to her. Nothing could be done in the matter without reference to the League of Nations, from which Germany dissociated herself when she resigned from it, some few years ago. Herr Hitler addresses himself to the world at large, on this matter; but he should address himself to the League. Yet he cannot very well do that, while Germany remains obdurately outside of the League. If Germany changed her belligerent attitude, rejoined the League, and adopted a reasonable measure of disarmament, probably Britain would consent to consider the return of some of Germany’s lost colonies. Until Germany has taken the steps mentioned, why should Britain consider Herr Hitler’s claim for the return of colonies which Germany lost through her unprovoked creation of war in 1914?