GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12932, 31 July 1905, Page 5

GERMANY IN THE PACIFIC.

WHY SHE PROMISES

REDRESS.

COLONIES' POWER TO

NEGOTIATE.

TIMES' VIGOROUS COMMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.

(B«ceirea July 30, 4.19 p.m.)

London, July 29. . The Agent-General for Victoria (Mr, Ooghlan) having written to the Times explaining the position in connection with the Marshall Islands, the Times publishes a vigorous article on the subject. It says:--"Germany's excuses have added insult to injury. She was indisposed to alter a transparently illusory • arrangement until the Australians were beginning to hint at retaliation. If only a little money is involved the denial of justice iff all the more.inexcusable.

"The lesson of the disupte is plain. Britain is powerless to protect British commerce, as she has nothing to negotiate with, as have the other Powers, except war. Lord Lansdowne might have written despatches till the crack of doom, and would never have obtained anything but pettifogging answers. The Australians themselves obtained the promise of redress, and it rests with them to see that the redress is genuine and adequate. They have something to negotiate with, and the power to retaliate when commercially injured. They are masters of their own domestic legislation, and are not tied hand and foot. Only the fear that Australia possessed £6,000,000 worth of Germany's commerce to operate upon brought the German Government to reason.

" Australia can imitate Canada's example by adopting a preferential tariff, and she possesses other ways of making her displeasure felt. We only hope that she will not shrink from using that power, as Germany in no sense is indispensable to the Australians, and they are very useful to Germany. By insisting on the fullest equality of treatment and adequate compensation for past injury, they will do a good thing for themselves and the Empire."